Private health facilities advised to extend quality services to rural areas

Government has asked private health facilities to extend good quality services to rural areas to ensure that Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) are eliminated because unqualified personnel have led to the death of pregnant mothers while giving birth.

The remarks were made as the Population Services International (PSI), a nonprofit organisation awarded over 50 private health facilities with certificates for attaining a training aimed at equipping them with skills and knowledge on how to provide quality service to the communities.

Dr Richard Mugahi, the assistant commissioner reproductive and infant health at the ministry said 15% of pregnant mothers get complications while giving birth, adding that it is very important to the private facilities to use people who are qualified to avoid this.

"We want our mothers and babies to be handled by the right care providers. If you are the right care provider, we are going to support you to ensure we eliminate traditional birth attendants. We are not only eliminating these people but we are doing society justice," he said.

He said Mayuge is one of the districts in Uganda with the biggest number of traditional birth attendants.

"You need to establish a private facility there so that we eliminate traditional birth attendants. They have taken over most areas in the country. Stop employing unqualified people because right now we have excess nurses in the market," he said.

Dr Mariam Luyiga,a senior technical advisor at PSI Uganda told the Nile Post that they are training the private facilities in order to bridge the capacity gaps in these facilities, especially those that are offering family planning to the mothers.

"We are looking at those midwives’ clinics where many women with little income are going to deliver. We want those categories of women so that when they seek services from these facilities, it is safe for them,” said Luyiga.