As Uganda commemorates the Safe Motherhood Day, ignorance about laws on abortion and defilement have been highlighted as major challenges to the fight against maternal mortality and mordibility.
The chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Sylvia Namabidde says many of these cases are settled out of court due to lack of knowledge about the existing laws.
Namabidde is now urging the police to actively sensitize the public about these laws.
Dr. Paul Kaggwa, a health promoter at the ministry of health says the day should be marked with emphasis on the importance of antenatal care for expectant mothers.
“Many women shun antenatal care yet it’s one sure way of identifying complications and avoiding death”, Dr. Kagga says.
National celebrations for the Safe Motherhood Day are held in Tororo district under the theme “mobilizing men as partners and champions in prevention of teenage pregnancy”.
