Save Pregnant Women from Malaria in Uganda

Summary

This is September – December quarterly activity and status report on “support Save 750 Pregnant women from malaria in Uganda” project in Kibuku district. The goal of the project is to contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality rates. The project is implemented in the district of Kibuku,” is reliant on financial support from donors under the GlobalGiving and Kagumu Community. KADO is grateful to all donors and the community for the support that contributed to the realisation of these quarterly results.  

Current status

Malaria is the leading cause of death in Uganda, accounting for over 27%. Maternal anaemia and placental parasitaenemia leads to low birth weight, which is an important contributor to infants’ mortality, miscarriages, Abortions and marternal mortality rate is increased.

To save pregnant mothers from malaria, KADO

Distributes LLINs to the pregnant mothers, spray doom, and Health education at the facility during antenatal and immunisation days.  In addition, KADO provides  malaria treatment to pregnant mothers

 Achievements

In this quarter, KADO managed to achieve the following results:-

1. A total of 200 pregnant mothers received Health education
2. Procured 230 medium long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets and 203 mothers received a LLIN each
3. Monitored and evaluated a total of 200 mothers who received health education during the quarter and it were found out that 85% had adopted best Health practices during pregnancy.
4. Procured 100 doses of malaria drug for mothers
5. Procured malaria test kits from ministry of health and tested 225 pregnant mothers

Challenges

i)     Limited and untimely drug supply to Health facilities.   

ii)   KADO is a donor dependent organisation, and realises little from its income generating activities to procure LLINS, spray doom and medical drugs and supplies.

Recommendations

i)     KADO requests all partners to raise support to enhance provision of malaria prevention services to the pregnant mothers to reduce on the maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rate   

Testimony from a Beneficiary

This testimony is from Joyce, a girl aged 14 years who conceived after her senior two. Whereas the government of Uganda distributes Long Lasting Insecticide treated Nets (LLINs) to pregnant women during labour and ANC, Not all pregnant women or girls access them and also she was stigmatied at first to go and get the LLIN. Therefore she had no access to a LLIN and conceived immediately after school. Joyce was staying with the pregnancy minus a mosquito net, spray doom or any knowledge and skills in malaria prevention. She only had a torn mosquito net for the young brother which she was using, hence exposing her life to fire risks and other related health problems.  When Joyce sought for health services at KADO Health facility because she used to be sickly all the time due to malaria. KADO therefore, gave her a LLIN; she is now free from mosquito bites and very grateful to KADO because she no longer becomes sickly as she used to be .  Joyce now tells the fellow women on the importance of sleeping in LLIN because she is not the only one facing the problem since most people can't afford to get nets if not given by government or a donation.This is a true story of what is happening to expectant mothers in Uganda today.