UGANDA: Fewer Mothers Dying in Uganda – WHO Report

Date: 
Friday, September 17, 2010
Source: 
NGO News Africa
Countries: 
Africa
Eastern Africa
Uganda
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Human Rights

WHILE maternal health in Uganda has improved over the last 20 years with fewer mothers dying from pregnancy-related complications, the country's maternal mortality rate remains high.

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef, the UN Population Fund and the World Bank, Uganda's maternal mortality ratio has fallen from 670 deaths per 100,000 live births, to 430 deaths per 100,000 live births.
However, the report added that despite the progress, Uganda was not yet on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality.

The report attributed the decline in maternal mortality globally to improved health systems, increased female education, supervised deliveries, improved antenatal services and increased use of contraception.

The report, which covers the period from 1990 to 2008, also said globally, the number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth had decreased by 34% from an estimated 546,000 in 1990 to 358,000 in 2008.

In East Africa, Uganda is classified with Rwanda as “making progress.” Kenya has made no progress, while Tanzania and Burundi have made insufficient progress. The report also classifies Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya as countries that lack complete registration data, while Burundi has no data on maternal mortality.

The report said 1,000 women still die everyday from severe bleeding after childbirth, infections, hypertensive disorders and unsafe abortion. Out of the 1,000, about 570 live in sub-Saharan African countries, which include Uganda. The report said the risk of a woman in a developing country dying from a pregnancy-related cause during her lifetime is about 36 times higher compared to a woman living in a developed country.

“To achieve our global goal of improving maternal health and to save women's lives, we need to do more to reach those who are most at risk,” said Anthony Lake, the Unicef boss.

“That means reaching women in rural areas and poorer households, women from ethnic minorities and indigenous groups, and women living with HIV and in conflict zones,” he said.

Source: Raymond Baguma of newvision.co.ug