Maternal Healthcare  for Safe Motherhood

On October 17th, Uganda commemorated Day under the theme “Empowering Mothers, Saving Lives.” The theme underscored the urgent need to ensure equitable access to quality maternal healthcare, nutrition, and education, particularly in rural and underserved communities where maternal mortality remains alarmingly high.

Research shows that 80% of maternal deaths in Uganda are linked to inadequate healthcare access, especially in remote areas. Each year, an estimated 6,000 women die from preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related causes. The country also continues to face high rates of teenage pregnancy (25%) and an unmet need for family planning (47%).

Despite these challenges, Uganda has made steady progress. Health facility deliveries have increased by 11% in just two years, maternal deaths have declined by 25% over the past five years, and perinatal mortality has reduced by 24%. Immunization coverage remains above 90%, while nearly 94% of mothers now receive postnatal care within the first 24 hours after delivery.

On October 22nd to 24th, 2025, the Ministry of Health hosted the 5th National Safe Motherhood Conference under the theme “Strengthening Multisectoral Collaboration and Mutual Accountability for Safe Motherhood.”

This landmark event convened key stakeholders from regional and national levels, the private sector, and development partners for in-depth discussions aimed at reviewing and advancing recommendations from the 4th Conference.

Participants engaged in comprehensive dialogues exploring barriers to maternal health progress and identifying innovative opportunities to improve outcomes. The discussions emphasized the need for coordinated, multisectoral efforts and shared accountability in ensuring safer motherhood across the country.

During the conference, Dr. Richard Mugahi, Commissioner for Reproductive and Child Health, emphasized: “Family planning remains a key pillar of safe motherhood. It’s not about sterilizing women—it’s about empowering families to make informed choices, to space and plan for children, and to protect the health of mothers and babies. This year alone, we’ve averted over 1.2 million unintended pregnancies, yet 42% of pregnancies in Uganda remain unplanned. That tells us our work must continue.”

HEPS-Uganda contributed to the dialogue through an abstract presentation titled “Mapping and Strengthening Referral Pathways for Adolescents: A Coordinated Approach to Post-Abortion Care and Family Planning Access in Eastern Uganda.”

This presentation highlighted the urgent need for better-coordinated referral systems, digital tools, and community engagement to strengthen access to post-abortion care and family planning services among adolescents in Eastern Uganda. Fragmented referral pathways and limited-service access continue to endanger adolescent health, a challenge that demands collective action.

As HEPS-Uganda, we remain steadfast in supporting national efforts to ensure that every woman and child has access to safe, quality, and equitable maternal healthcare services.

We believe that access to essential medicines is a fundamental human right and a critical indicator of a well-functioning health system. Our advocacy focuses on improving healthcare access—particularly at the community levels—to strengthen the health system’s responsiveness and sustainability.

Together with the Ministry of Health, our partners, civil society organizations, the private sector, and healthcare workers, we will continue to work collaboratively to enhance access to maternal healthcare and nutrition services.

By making safe motherhood a national priority, we aim to safeguard the health and well-being of mothers and newborns, thereby building healthier families and stronger communities for generations to come.

Read more HEPS-Uganda@25’s opinions on our blog, on our website: www.heps.or.ug

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