Articles

Special Delivery

Pregnancy can be exhilarating, exhausting and exciting! Imagine working through 9 months of emotions and then at the end of it either you nearly die or your baby dies.

That is the reality for many mothers and babies in Uganda.

The statistics are reminiscent of deaths recorded in Victorian England. In Uganda, 510 mothers in every 100,000 die in childbirth, compared to just 7 in the UK.

Janat a teacher in Kabubbu Community Primary School had 7 miscarriages before we heard of her problem. Funds were provided for treatment to enable her to carry a baby to full term. Her first daughter was born in 2006. 17 months later she had a second daughter. In 2009 Janat was 34 weeks pregnant with her 3rd child.

A teacher at the school where she works noticed Janat was not responding or behaving as she normally did. She urged her to attend hospital but medical examinations are expensive and Janat wasn’t actually feeling unwell.

However her friend continued to urge her to go to hospital. On arrival her blood pressure was found to be excessively high. Her unborn baby was showing signs of distress. Nurses recommended a lifesaving caesarean operation but also advised it was too dangerous. In desperation the nurses prayed. Within minutes Janat’s blood pressure dropped, the staff immediately operated and, miraculously, a tiny baby boy of just 2 kg was delivered.

The Kabubbu Parish Health Centre is launching a health education campaign - Special Delivery - which will be directed at all women between 16 - 50 years of age. It will:
a) provide information on why antenatal care is vital - as many women have partners who feel this is unnecessary
b) overcome a general belief that health centres are for sick people
c) inform on the need for antenatal care as many women don’t see a need for this
d) provide the antenatal care needed and any minerals or vitamin supplements
e) help pregnant women recognise some signs or changes during their pregnancy that might become life threatening
f) provide a safe medical environment in which to deliver babies
g) fund or provide small items like soap or a nightdress because partners often refuse to fund such necessary items
h) provide post natal care
i) save the lives of mothers and babies

Special Delivery will employ a part time Community Health Worker and one of our midwives. They will educate the women over a two year period and aim to contact most women and girls who are likely to become pregnant in that time. They will be offered free antenatal, delivery and post natal care.

We aim to support and care for 720 women and girls in 6 rural locations in and around Kabubbu.

Can you help us to save the lives of mothers and babies?

Please complete and mail the donation form which you can download by clicking here. 100% of your donation will be used in full at the point of need.