Kabale district, Western Uganda – At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda, Midwife Anne Tushemereirwe of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital did everything possible to save a mother and her twins. Unfortunately, the mother had advanced symptoms of COVID-19 worsened by hypertension. The doctors and nurses who did everything possible to save her life lost the battle on 31^st January 2022.  

At that moment, Sister Anne resolved that she would do everything in her power to save the babies, who were just seven-months (twenty-eight weeks), weighing 1.3kgs and 1.01kgs respectively.

‘’I worked with the father of the twins, Justus Ssalongo, who was desperate to see his babies live,” said Sister Anne.

 Unfortunately, one of the twins did not make it, she died shortly after. But still, this did not dampen the resolve of Sister Anne, she gathered all the support to save the one baby, weighing 1.01kgs at that time.

On 5^th May, at the International Day of the Midwives commemorated in Kabale district, Sister Anne had a powerful testimony to tell. The baby, who was named Constance Kyalimpa, had pulled through the danger zone. A few days before the commemoration, baby Constance had been discharged from hospital, weighing 3.5kgs.

Sharing her testimony with the Chief Guest, the Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, Minister of General Duties at the Office of the Prime Minister, and other guests who attended the commemoration ceremony, under the theme, “100 Years of Progress”, Sister Anne was eager to tell the world that midwives do much more than helping mothers deliver safely. They do everything possible to save the lives of mothers and their babies.

“We had the challenge of feeding the baby because the mother was dead, thanks to “Good Girls,” a non-government organization in Kabale district, they supported us with NAN Formula 1 milk,” said Sister Anne.

Sharing her testimony with the Chief Guest, the Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, Minister of General Duties at the Office of the Prime Minister, and other guests who attended the commemoration ceremony, under the theme, “100 Years of Progress”, Sister Anne was eager to tell the world that midwives do much more than helping mothers deliver safely. They do everything possible to save the lives of mothers and their babies.

“We had the challenge of feeding the baby because the mother was dead, thanks to “Good Girls,” a non-government organization in Kabale district, they supported us with NAN Formula 1 milk,” said Sister Anne.

“So we embarked on hygiene and keeping the baby warm. We even trained the father on the Kangaroo care,” she added.  Kangaroo mother care is a World Health Organization (WHO) recommended method of care for preterm infants that involves infants being carried, usually by the mother, with skin-to-skin contact.

Scaling up and strengthening the capacity of midwives

Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Dr. Kamara Nicolas Theodeus, the Kabale Municipality Member of Parliament, commended the great work of the midwives, working under difficult conditions to save the lives of mothers and their babies, pledging that the Government of Uganda will invest more to ensure a skilled and well equipped workforce. 

“Every midwife should have the skills they need to detect the things that affect the mother,” Hon. Kamara said.

The Chief Guest, Rt. Hon. Lumumba said that Uganda is proud to stand with midwives in commemoration of 100 years of progress: “My government is committed to ensuring that the midwives are supported to provide quality midwifery services to all Ugandans by encouraging the enhancement of quality training of midwives, as well as adopting innovative technology.”

The State of the World’s Midwifery Report 2021 found that investing in universal access to quality midwifery care could save 4.3 million lives annually in the prevention of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths. 

In his remarks, Mr. Danel Alemu, the UNFPA Deputy Representative in Uganda noted that midwifery is increasingly recognized and valued as a health-care profession providing services that are core to primary health care.

“Midwives are skilled to provide up to 90% of the sexual and reproductive health care needed, making them the ideal health professionals to support women and families through this continuum of care,” Mr. Alemu noted.

Thus, in addition to supporting the Government of Uganda to train over 600 midwives between 2010 and 2020 and equipping 20 Midwifery Training Schools, UNFPA with funding from the Government of Sweden supported midwives to integrate into associations that will help strengthen the midwifery programme as well as improve the overall image of the profession.

In a statement delivered by Sister Sylvia Takali, on behalf of Sister Annet Kanyunyuzi, the President of the National Midwives Association of Uganda, the midwives pledged to raise the banner to even greater heights.

“We have registered achievement in capacity building of midwives towards respectful maternity care, we have initiated innovative and transformational strategies to mitigate hardships encountered towards progress, we have demonstrated integrity and accountability. We are optimistic that even greater accomplishments will come,” the statement read.

In a statement issued by UNFPA to mark the International Day of the Midwife and 100 years of progress for midwives on 5^th May, the UNFPA Executive Director noted that: “Not only do their capable hands bring new life into the world, they [midwives] are champions of sexual and reproductive health and rights, providing voluntary contraception and other essential services, while supporting childbearing women emotionally.”

On the journey towards the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, UNFPA is striving to support governments to make midwifery an autonomous, well-respected, fully supported profession that is fully integrated within health systems.

Compiled by Prossy Jonker Nakanjako/UNFPA Uganda