Jinja: The Ministry of Health has sounded a clarion call to eliminate preventable newborn deaths, especially those caused by birth asphyxia, as Uganda commemorates the “Every Baby’s First Cry” month this June.
The national event was hosted at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital on June 27, 2025, drawing health professionals, community leaders, and stakeholders from across the country.
“The first cry of a baby signifies life, strength, and the will to survive and thrive,” the Ministry stated through the Department of Reproductive & Child Health and the Newborn Working Group, the key organizers of the campaign.
Over the past decade, Uganda has made commendable progress in reducing maternal mortality—from 336 to 189 deaths per 100,000 live births. However, neonatal mortality remains persistently high, standing at 22 deaths per 1,000 live births, with 1 in every 45 newborns not surviving past their first month (UDHS 2022). The major culprit is birth asphyxia, accounting for 59% of neonatal deaths.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Ronny Bahatungire, Commissioner at the Ministry of Health, decried widespread inefficiencies within health facilities, singling out “Delay 3” — hospital-level delays — as a critical bottleneck in emergency maternal care.
“With 86% of mothers delivering in hospitals, Delay 3 should no longer exist. Yet, the average decision-to-delivery time in emergencies is five hours—far above the recommended 30 minutes,” Dr. Bahatungire said.
The Commissioner condemned the growing trend of health workers demanding bribes before providing care — a practice he described as fatal and unethical.
“Many mothers and babies die simply because their families can’t afford the bribes some health workers ask for. That is unacceptable,” he warned.
He particularly highlighted Busoga sub-region as one of the worst-affected areas, citing high rates of teenage pregnancies that often result in complicated deliveries and maternal or newborn deaths.
“Busoga has the highest number of adolescent girls becoming pregnant before their bodies are ready. The consequences are tragic—prolonged labor, obstructed births, and in worst cases, death,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Alfred Yayi, Director of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, echoed similar concerns and called on expectant mothers to seek care early at public hospitals.
“We continue to see a rise in newborn deaths because many mothers delay to seek help or prefer unregulated care. Government hospitals are equipped and open—come early,” Dr. Yayi urged.
He emphasized that public health facilities are ready to manage complications if mothers report early, warning that late admissions often lead to avoidable fatalities.
The Ministry of Health outlined several strategic interventions to tackle newborn deaths. These include: Construction and equipping of maternity theatres across the country, provision of blood transfusion services at all Health Centre IVs and expansion of neonatal care units in general and regional referral hospitals.
Launch of comprehensive in-service training in newborn care, with Cohort 3 of clinical placements for nurses and midwives set to begin soon is also among the notable interventions the Ministry of Health has undertaken to end newborn deaths.
Further more, health workers were urged to identify risks early during antenatal visits and also maintain open communication with expectant mothers.
“Always prepare newborn resuscitation kits alongside delivery kits. Treat newborns as patients the moment they are born,” Dr. Bakatungire told health workers.
The commemoration included public sensitization sessions on the importance of a newborn’s first cry and emergency response in cases of birth asphyxia. Health experts trained community members on how to act when a baby is born silently and what tools and techniques can help save lives.
After the discussions, participants toured the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Jinja Hospital, where health workers demonstrated care protocols for newborns requiring resuscitation.
“Birth asphyxia is not worth celebrating — but a baby’s first cry is,” Dr. Bahatungire emphasized.
In closing, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to support health workers, improve infrastructure, and ensure no mother or baby dies from preventable causes.
“Let us ensure every newborn is received with dignity, preparedness, and life-saving care,” Dr. Bahatungire declared.
