The Ministry of Health is stepping up calls for stronger action to protect mothers and newborns, as the country continues to grapple with high neonatal mortality rates.

During the 5th National Safe Motherhood Conference, health experts, policymakers and development partners underscored the urgent need to scale up maternal education, improve access to quality care before and after childbirth, and strengthen community awareness.

The Ministry emphasized that reducing newborn deaths requires a united effort across all sectors to ensure that every child is given a healthy start to life.

The 5th National Safe Motherhood Conference brought together hundreds of health experts, policymakers and development partners to advance Uganda’s maternal and newborn health agenda.

Organized by the Ministry of Health under the theme “Strengthening Multisectoral Collaboration and Mutual Accountability for Safe Motherhood,” the conference emphasized maternal education and improved healthcare access to reduce newborn deaths.

According to Dr. Kathy Burgoine, a paediatrician at Mbale Regional Hospital, newborns have long been neglected, leading to a rise in neonatal deaths. She noted that about 34 out of every 1,000 live births result in neonatal deaths, with lower mortality rates reported in regions such as West Nile.

She further highlighted several causes of neonatal deaths and outlined measures that could help prevent them, emphasizing the critical importance of improving neonatal care across the country.

Representing the Ministry of Health, Dr. Deogratius Migadde, Senior Medical Officer in the Reproductive and Child Health Department, discussed ways to scale up the level of care both before and after birth.
All stakeholders were urged to join efforts to address and reduce the rising rates of neonatal deaths.

Uganda’s neonatal mortality rate stands at approximately 22 to 27 deaths per 1,000 live births more than double the World Health Organization’s target.

Key contributors to these deaths include birth asphyxia, prematurity, and low birth weight. At the 5th National Safe Motherhood Conference, health leaders and partners committed to scaling up maternal education and neonatal care to reverse this trend and protect Uganda’s youngest citizens.