The Ministry of Health has flagged off maternal and newborn care equipment worth approximately UGX 2.1 billion, reinforcing Uganda’s commitment to improving emergency obstetric and newborn care services in high-volume public health facilities across the country.
The consignment, procured under the “Empowering Families, Growing Futures” Rotary Global Grant initiative through the Mama Toto programme, will be distributed to 31 public health facilities, including 16 Health Centre IVs and 15 Health Centre IIIs across 14 districts. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of healthcare for mothers and newborns by equipping frontline facilities with essential lifesaving medical equipment.
The equipment was acquired through the US$551,000 Empowering Families, Growing Futures Rotary Global Grant, implemented by the Ministry of Health in partnership with Rotary District 9213, Mama Toto Care Uganda, 45 Rotary and Rotaract Clubs, and other development partners.
Presiding over the flag-off ceremony at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala, the State Minister for Primary Health Care, Dr. Charles Ayume, said the investment reflects the government’s continued commitment to reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths by strengthening the capacity of health facilities.
“Every mother deserves a safe pregnancy and delivery, and every newborn deserves the best possible start to life. This equipment will strengthen the capacity of our health facilities to provide timely, quality care where it is needed most. As a Ministry, we remain committed to working with our partners to ensure these investments translate into better health outcomes for Ugandan families,” Dr. Ayume said.
He also commended Rotary and its partners for their unwavering support, emphasizing that the Ministry’s efforts go beyond supplying equipment to ensuring its effective utilization through continuous training, supervision, and regular maintenance.
The consignment includes delivery beds, radiant warmers, patient monitors, baby cots, phototherapy machines, newborn resuscitation units, Kangaroo Mother Care chairs, and other critical medical equipment designed to improve maternal and newborn survival.
The Commissioner for Reproductive and Child Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi, noted that the equipment complements the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the skills of healthcare workers in managing maternal and newborn complications.
“Equipment alone is not enough. It must go hand in hand with competent health workers and strong systems of care. That is why the Ministry continues to support comprehensive training, mentorship and quality improvement initiatives to ensure that mothers and newborns receive the right care at the right time,”* Dr. Mugahi said.
He added that healthcare workers under the programme are already receiving specialized training in Essential Newborn Care, while additional training in Helping Mothers Survive will further enhance the management of obstetric emergencies such as postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and obstructed labour.
The latest investment represents another important milestone in Uganda’s efforts to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare services by combining modern medical equipment with continuous capacity building for frontline health workers, ultimately improving survival and health outcomes for mothers and babies nationwide.
