By Solomon Hamala
IGANGA
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) Iganga has blamed rising cases of maternal deaths on rude and uncooperative midwives.
Hajjira Namagogwe said this yesterday 8th February, 2022 during the launch of White Ribbon Alliance, Uganda in Iganga held at hotel continental. White Ribbon Alliance Uganda (WRA Uganda) was formed in 2009 to give a voice to the women most at risk of dying in childbirth.
The Mission statement for (WRA, U) is a Uganda where all girls and women realize their right to quality health and well-being.
Namagogwe said she had received numerous complaints indicating that midwives on duty always hurl insults besides slapping expectant mothers who go to the facility for delivery.
Namagogwe said the habit not only is a violation of the patient’s right but also scares away expectant mothers from seeking services from trained medical personnel.
“Most of our mothers have resorted to delivering at the hands of traditional birth attendants fearing to be harassed,” she said.
She said the number of expectant mothers in the district dying while in labor had of recent increased as a result of negative attitude of midwives on duty at Iganga Main Hospital.
“By the time these women are being referred to trained personnel for emergency attention they end up dying,” she said.
She urged government to increase on funding allocated to the health sector to ensure improved service delivery.
The District Health Officer (DHO) Iganga, Doctor Patrick Kitimbo said he had set up a committee to investigate the allegations in order to take disciplinary action against those found guilty.
Kitimbo also cautioned health personnel operating public health centers against extorting money from patients saying anyone found guilty risks being arrested and prosecuted before courts of law for corruption.
The Executive Director White Ribbon Alliance Uganda, Doctor Rose Mukisa urged health personnel to always listen to the views of patients to ensure they respect their views.
“Some patients especially expectant mothers always want to make choices of which kind of midwife should attend to her while in labor and these views should be respected,” she said.
Mukisa said the organization advocates for equal access to proper health care in public facilities besides eradication of negative attitudes of midwives to expectant mothers seeking labor.
