Hoima district has merged best in fighting against maternal death after reporting zero cases in over the last 400 days.

In the Bunyoro region Institutional Maternal mortality and perinatal mortality rate report released by the ministry of health earlier this week, Hoima district registered no case of any mother dying while delivering with 5961 mothers delivered in 2024/2025 period. It was followed by Kibaale district which also registered zero cases of maternal death in the 7182 deliveries.

Others with only one case of mothers dying while delivering are Kagadi and Kikuube districts. Kakumiro and Buliisa districts registered only two cases. Masindi registered three.

Hoima city had the highest recorded number of maternal mortality with 43 cases followed by Kiryandongo with 11 cases. Bunyoro region recorded 63 cases throughout the year.

Dr Baluku Lawrence, the Senior medical officer in Charge Kigorobya health Center four attributes the several intervention ranging from community sensitization, improved theater services and availability of health workers in time.

‘‘We have sensitized mothers during community outreaches, during immunization where we are advocating for all our mothers to deliver from all our health centers and this has really helped. We are seeing a big number of mothers delivering at health centers. The other intervention is the theater because majority of the mothers used to the regional hospital but now we have a fully functioning theater and most of the mothers come here’’ Dr Baluku says.

He adds ‘‘We have also shared our contacts with mothers in rural areas where by it has become quite easy for us to be accessed for help at any time’’.

According to Dr Baluku most mothers die due to postpartum hemorrhage where a mother loses much blood after giving birth. It is the most common cause of maternal death worldwide.

This is also caused by a number of delays in seeking medical attention, delays in referral and delays in interventions by a health worker.

The Hoima LCV Chairman Uthuman mugisha Kadiri says as political leaders, they are pushing for upgrading Kigorobya Health Center Four to a district hospital status.

‘‘We would want our health facility to be upgraded to a district hospital status. It will come with so many structures, staff and we will be able to handle other cases. Then majority of health center IIs should be elevated to health center III in order to extend more services to the community. We are glad that people are using the services of the theater…. To sustain this standard, we are pushing for upgrading Kigorobya health center four to a district hospital and also upgrade other health center IIs and IIIs in the district in order to improve on extension of services to more local people. We are also looking at recruiting more key staff in the health sector’’ Uthuman says.

The Hoima DHO,Dr Lawrence Tumusiime said several intervention have been deployed.

“This was achieved through multiple interventions that included community engagements with local leaders (LCIs), religious leaders, community influencers to support pregnant women attend antenatal care visits (98.3%), seeking delivery service at the facility early. We have engaged traditional birth attendants to referral agents , integrated community outreach for maternal and child health services. Routine monitoring of health service delivery by the top district leadership involving the RDC, LCV & CAO among others” said Dr Lawrence.

The Hoima CAO Emmanuel Ssempala says that the district is committed to ensuring that no mother dies while giving birth.This according to CAO will be achieved through close and support supervision to the health workers, implementation of all work plans in time and also sensitizing local people on health issues.