Tomorrow Friday, the Ministry of Health will be joining the world to mark the International Midwives Day, to celebrate the contributions of the country’s midwives.
The International Midwives Day was established by the International Confederation of Midwives following discussions among midwives associations in the late 1980s. It was formally launched in 1992.
The national celebrations according to Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the Minister of state for Primary Health Care, will be held in Kabarole District.
The minister revealed that a series of medical camps have been lined up for the event where people will access free medical care, free screening services for STDs, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer and cervical cancer”.
This year’s event will be celebrated under the theme, “Midwives, Mothers & Families: Partners for Life’’.
“It’s aimed to highlight that by working in partnership with women and their families, midwives can support them to make better decisions about what is required to have a safe and fulfilling birth,” said the minister.
“Midwives are key in educating families on how to delay, space or limit pregnancies and provide family planning services to achieve the healthiest outcomes for women, newborns, infants, and children”.
In Uganda so far, there has been a marked improvement in pregnant women attending four or more antenatal care visits from 48% in 2011 to 60% in 2016 while the number of births in health facilities increased from 57% in 2011 to 73% in 2016.
Uganda has 8000 midwives operating from Health Centre IIs up to National Referral Hospital level.