At least a total of over 200 pregnant women in Soroti City have received delivery kits through the office of the Woman MP Joan Alobo Acom.
An estimated one thousand women are expected to receive the delivery kits at the end of the program according to a source who works with MP Alobo.
While handing over the kits in three wards of Moruapesur, Pamba and Agama wards, Alobo said she has decided to donate delivery kits to pregnant women in Soroti to aid them while giving birth.
Alobo has urged the government to improve on the maternal services especially in rural areas to reduce maternal death.
“I have always been receiving calls from my ward assistants over the maternal issues and when I was looking for votes, I promised to improve on the maternal services in our area,” she said.
Whereas National Medical Stores (NMS) says mothers delivering from public health facilities should not be charged for Mama Kits since they are distributed by the government, several government facilities have been charging expectant mothers exorbitant fees.
A Mama Kit contains a set of materials needed to provide a clean and safe delivery.
The contents include cotton wool, gauze, surgical gloves, Macintosh sheet (Kaveera) for the mother and child, bathing soap, a razor blade to cut the umbilical cord, and the umbilical tape.
According to the Ministry of Health, 16 mothers die every day due to pregnancy and childbirth related complications, including over bleeding, infections, obstructed labour, and high blood pressure.
Experts say Mama Kits remain critical in reducing maternal mortality rates as they are an urgent and cost-effective measure to ensure that childbirth is conducted in a clean environment.
Several beneficiaries who spoke to our reporter hailed MP Alobo for the support but said communities should be sensitized about the availability of free Mama Kits, so that those in-charge in health facilities don’t take advantage of their ignorance.
They claim women, especially in rural areas, are unaware that the items are free of charge.