Saving Lives at Birth; Maternal Health in Uganda

We want to share with you a very special blog written by one of our midwives at the Shanti Uganda Birth Centre. Today only your donation will be matched by Global Giving up to 30% so your dollar will stretch even further. Please consider making a donation today and supporting our midwives to provide the safest and most loving birth care to all mothers.  

Through the lens of a midwife, by Ssanyu Namuleme

Birth here in Uganda is not conducive to the mothers. Things such as gloves and birthing tools will not be provided for mothers at health centres.  There is no encouragement for the mothers to come with specific birth partners for support. Additionally, mothers that are deep in the villages are sometimes unable, or choose not to go all the way to the hospital or maternity center to give birth and have to rely on the traditional birth attendants.

When I was in Senior 5, one of my friends got pregnant.  She, like most girls who become pregnant early here, was sent out of school.  She attended her maximum of four prenatal visits entirely on her own.  When she went into labor, she was still on her own.  Due to societal pressures, our entire group of friends, and even her auntie, whom she was living with, had abandoned her.  She then called me, to tell me her situation.  I asked permission from my mother if I could join her, and I accompanied her to a private maternity center.  It was about 8 p.m. when we knocked on the door.  There was a midwife there who answered, but her attitude towards us was extremely negative.  She even slapped my friend when she was pushing.  There was no respect for my friend.  I was shocked and felt hurt.  From this moment on, I decided to join the midwifery world in order to see if all midwives behaved like that.  If that was the case, I wanted to be able to provide a different type of care for the mothers, but fortunately I have found a very caring and knowledgeable group of midwives to work with. 

I feel fortunate to work with Shanti because there are distinct between Shanti and other hospitals. Mothers get the best services because of the personal experiences of the different midwives Shanti has. We will teach teen girls different behaviors and workshops so they can avoid the same situation my friend found herself in.  Not to mention, Shanti is a learning center.  I look forward to the different training available to me, which enables me to grow as a midwife.