1. “End Gender Based Violence to reduce Maternal Mortality in Uganda”
The 126th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly held in Kampala in April 2012 recognised
that lack of access to quality Sexual and Reproductive Health services and supplies, in
particular Family Planning services including contraceptives was a major contributing
factor to maternal mortality. It also acknowledged that most maternal deaths could be
prevented if women had access to appropriate health care during pregnancy, childbirth,
and immediately afterwards.
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development acknowledges that the achievement
of Safe motherhood is not only a health concern but with social dimensions attached.
The un equal power relations in our communities predispose women to vices like GBV
for example battering, cultural practices like FGM, giving birth at home, taking herbal
medicine, denial of permission by spouse and refusal of financial support to enable them
access health care. This is accelerated through the fact that majority of women are poor,
Christine Guwatudde Kintu Hon. Nakadama Lukia Isanga illiterate compared to their counterparts and require permission from their partners to
Permanent Secretary State Minister For Gender And Culture access health care which exposes them to the associated complications during pregnancy
and child birth.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development joins the rest of the country to
commemorate the International Safe motherhood day on Wednesday, 17th October, In an effort to end Gender Based Violence, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social
2012 in Kyenjojo District. The theme for this year is: ‘Zero tolerance to maternal and Development with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is implementing
newborn deaths: Play your role’. The theme provides an opportunity to enlist more the GOU-UNFPA country programme(2010-2014) with Local Governments and Civil
support and increased participation of old and new stakeholders in averting the high Society Organisations to prevent and respond to GBV. The interventions on GBV have
maternal and newborn death rates in our Country. registered the following achievements: Enactment of the Domestic Violence law and
Regulations, Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation law, revision of Police Form 3,
The main purpose of this commemoration is to reflect on the progress made and challenges, sensitized communities on GBV, strengthened coordination of GBV actors through the
mobilize the political, civic & socio-cultural leaders, the private sector, civil society, the National and District GBV Reference Group. However, a lot still needs to be done. Women
service providers, development partners and the population to recommit themselves to need to be empowered socially and economically in order to make informed decisions as
improving maternal & neonatal health in Uganda. Safe motherhood means ensuring that regards their Sexual Reproductive Health and male involvement is key to achieving Safe
all women receive the care they need to be safe and healthy throughout pregnancy and Motherhood. Men should play their role of supporting women during pregnancy, birth and
childbirth. the postpartum period, and should be equal partners in child care.
According to the UDHS Maternal Mortality is at 438 deaths per 100,000 live births and As we celebrate this day and mark the Jubilee, we urge all Ugandans to support efforts to
infant mortality is 90 deaths per 1000 live births which are still unacceptably high a multi- save lives of the mothers who die every day due to pregnancy related issues in our country.
sectoral approach has to be strengthened to enable Uganda achieve the 4th Millennium
Development Goal. “For God and my Country”