The WHO Representative for Uganda Dr Joaquim Saweka paid a two-days working visit to Soroti district, Eastern Uganda to check on the implementation of the Making Pregnancy Safer (MPS) project that was initiated by WHO and the Ministry of Health.

 This was Dr Saweka’s first visit in Eastern Uganda. During the visit he met with the district authorities, the District Health Team, hospital and peripheral health unit workers, patients and the community. The District Director of Health Services Dr Charles Okadhi briefed Dr Saweka on the implementation process and success of the MPS noting that the project had drastically reduced the district Maternal Mortality Ratio from 885/100,000 in 2000 to 190/100,000 in 2008.

At Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Saweka was briefed about its operations by the Acting Medical Superintendent Dr Geoffrey Egwau. He conducted Dr Saweka around the hospital facilities particularly the maternity ward where he pointed out increased deliveries and Emergency Obstetric Care services due to the operation of the MPS project. 

Dr Saweka also visited Serere Health Center IV where he held discussion with the In-charge of the unit and other health workers. They informed him that their biggest hindrance to the sustainability of the MPS project activities include absence of a medical officer, a grounded ambulance and a non functional operating theater. Nevertheless, MPS activities still continue at the health unit with emergency obstetric cases referred to Soroti Regional Hospital using improvised transport means. 

At Kyere Health Center III, Dr Saweka interacted with the unit staff and some patients who informed him about the problem they face in delivery and access of MPS services prominent of which was inadequate staff to attend to many patients and poor supply of drugs and other medical supplies. 

To wind up his visit, Dr Saweka visited the Soroti District Chairman Mr Steven Ochola with whom he discussed the critical role of political support in programmes such as MPS. Mr Ochola assured him of his readiness to participate in any future activities that will help revitalize the MPS in Soroti. 

In all the encounters Dr Saweka assured his hosts of WHO’s readiness to contribute to revitalize the MPS programme and even scale it up to cover the entire district. He promised to mobilize resource and technical assistance to ensure that the hospital and health facilities in the District become functional as before during the project time. 

Dr Saweka was accompanied on the visit by the Technical Officer/Health at DFID Dr Alistair Robb, the Family Health Country Advisor at WHO/Uganda Dr Olive Sentumbwe, Dr. Hafsa Luswata from Clinical Services, MoH , Sister Grace Were from Reproductive Health MoH, Mr Benjamin Sensasi, Health Information and Promotion Officer, WHO/Uganda, Mr. Kifle Haileab Administrative Officer, WHO Uganda and Ms Olive Nyangoma from WHO Uganda office.