Saving Lives at Birth in Kawempe amidst COVID-19

Introduction

The Saving Lives at Birth in Kawempe project works to reduce maternal and newborn deaths through improved antenatal care (ANC), safe delivery support, emergency referrals, and postnatal follow-up. This quarter focused on strengthening ANC attendance, increasing skilled facility deliveries, and building community awareness on maternal and newborn health.

Key Activities

During the quarter, the project continued to offer routine ANC services, maternal counseling, health education talks, newborn assessments, and emergency referral support. Village Health Teams (VHTs) conducted community sensitization and referred pregnant mothers to begin ANC early. The project also supported delivery services at our health facility and followed up mothers and newborns after delivery.

Results & Achievements

This quarter, a total of 15 pregnant mothers attended ANC services at our facility. Among them, 4 mothers started ANC in their first trimester, 6 attended during their second trimester, and 5 sought care in the third trimester. The continued presence of late-bookers highlights ongoing need for early ANC sensitization, but the engagement of first-trimester mothers shows progress in early pregnancy identification efforts.

A total of 5 mothers delivered at our facility, with 4 experiencing normal deliveries and one mother requiring a caesarean section due to medical indications that posed a risk to both the mother and baby if a normal delivery continued. During labor, our medical team observed signs of fetal distress, meaning the baby was not receiving adequate oxygen and continuing with normal labor could have endangered the baby’s life.

After assessment, the health team made the decision to perform a C-section to protect the life and wellbeing of both mother and child. The procedure was successful, and both mother and baby recovered well, receiving post-operative and postnatal support at the facility.

 All newborns were reviewed immediately after delivery and later during postnatal follow-ups, and they were stable with no complications reported.

In addition, 20 pregnant women received individualized counseling on topics such as birth preparedness, nutrition, breastfeeding, and danger signs in pregnancy. The team also conducted postnatal follow-up for 7 mothers and their newborns, ensuring safe recovery and supporting breastfeeding. There was one emergency referral for a high-risk pregnancy that required advanced care, demonstrating continued attention to emergency response and maternal safety.

Success Story

One expectant mother from Bwaise entered ANC in her first trimester after receiving community sensitization information from VHTs. She attended all her scheduled ANC visits, received counseling and routine check-ups, and later delivered a healthy baby at the facility through a normal birth. After her positive experience, she encouraged two other pregnant women in her neighborhood to start ANC early, contributing to community awareness and safe maternal practices.

Plans for Next Quarter

Next quarter, the project will intensify outreach to identify pregnant mothers earlier, expand community dialogues to involve men and family decision-makers, strengthen postnatal home visits, and continue mentorship for VHTs to improve maternal referrals. We also plan to organize an ANC open day to raise awareness and promote early ANC attendance.

Conclusion

The quarter recorded positive progression in maternal and newborn health support, with safe deliveries and improved early ANC uptake among pregnant women in Kawempe. Continued guidance, community engagement, and strengthened facility-based services will help more mothers access timely care and ensure safe childbirth outcomes. We remain committed to safeguarding the lives of mothers and babies and strengthening maternal health systems in Kawempe.