The Danish ambassador to Uganda, Mr Stig Barlyng, has decried the high maternal and infant mortality rate in the East African country, reports “The Monitor” in Kampala.
– Uganda has been successful in achieving many health goals, but the maternal and infant mortality rates have remained unacceptably high, Barlyng told the press at the 10th Joint Review Mission by the Ministry of Health in Kampala last week.
According to the 2003/04 Annual Health Sector Report, only 24,4 per cent of Ugandas pregnant mothers delivered at health units.
Barlyng said the government should consider increasing the percentage of deliveries at health centres to reduce the maternal and mortality rates. He asked the government to introduce minimum service standards to make it affordable by the poor.
The state minister for Primary Health Care, Mr Alex Kamugisha, said the maternal and infant rates have more to do with perceptions from the communities than investment. He said this was noticed after the budget was increased from 10 to 15 percent by the government.
Kilde: The Push Journal
