The ministry of health diseminassion report on mothers and babies that died in 2012/13comes with alarming statistics showing that there has been a 50% reduction in maternal death across the country with Masaka district lying in the red gap of worst performing districts in areas of maternal health.
The report released today in Kampala at silver springs hotelin Bugolobi the ministry to gage how the sector is performing towards maternal health before 2015 clocks continues to highlight that 87% of the death were not notified to the ministry by health units, still birth within health facilities rose by 40% in 2009-2011, 15% of expectant mothers aged between 18 to 34 died as well as mother below 18 years or above 35 years.
The report continues to reveal that majority death among expectant mothers were those who had produced less than five times and 15% for those who had produced more than five times, 55% dead mothers did not receive any antenatal care (ANC) while13.3% of the deceased had no evidence of having attended ANC.
However, the lead researcher who also doubles as the assistant commissioner health services reproductive health, Tusingwire Collins attributes that high death and poor performance to weaknesses in health facilities and personnel at district level.
But the state minister for primary health care, Sara Opendi basing on the released report warns district health officers, doctors and nurses of receiving heavy punishments if the released statistics continue to surface.Cue.Opendi.Eng&Lug.
Though Masaka, Mbarara, Bundibugyo, Amudat, Mitiyana, Kiryandongo, Mbararaamong other were the worst performers health facilities like, Nsambya, Nakaseke, Mbarara university and Kiwoko hospitals were the best health performing facilities and its on this ground that the Dr. Olive Sentumbwe who is the family health and population advisor at WHO calls for collective responsibility of family members to expectant mothers in order to scale down maternal death before 2015.
The report recommends that emergency obstetric care in health centers be continuously monitored, continued education on maternal and new born killers must be sustained and mentorship among others.