Expectant mothers in the villages of Buwatha, Bunyadinko, Kirimo, and Bugangama in Kilembe Sub-county, Kasese District have been encouraged to attend antenatal care services regularly to ensure safe pregnancies and successful deliveries.
The call was made by Pardon Bwambale, Executive Director of Help Me to Grow Organization (HEMTOG), during the distribution of free mama kits donated by the Birthing Kit Foundation of Australia. The kits are intended to support expectant mothers during childbirth at health facilities within Kilembe Sub-county and neighbouring areas.
Bwambale said the kits are available free of charge to all expectant mothers in the sub-county and emphasized the importance of seeking professional medical care throughout pregnancy.
“Once a woman becomes pregnant, going to the hospital should be as normal as eating food at home. It helps mothers monitor their health from the time they discover they are pregnant until delivery,” he said.
He also urged fathers to play a more active role in maternal healthcare by providing additional delivery requirements such as cotton wool and other essential items needed during childbirth.
In addition, Bwambale encouraged couples to maintain healthy relationships and work together to promote family wellbeing during pregnancy and childbirth.
Venesia Mughongu, a Village Health Team member and Local Council I Chairperson of Kirimo Village, welcomed the donation, describing it as a timely intervention for the community.
Mughongu noted that the local health sector has faced numerous challenges, particularly in maternal and child healthcare, but expressed optimism that the availability of birthing kits would help reduce maternal and newborn deaths in the area.
Some beneficiaries also expressed gratitude for the support. Agnes Muhindo, an expectant mother, thanked HEMTOG for easing the burden faced by pregnant women, while Patrick Masereka, who accompanied his wife to receive a kit, said the initiative would help families save money as they prepare for childbirth.
Masereka further noted that the free kits would reduce the financial pressure on households and help address challenges that often arise when families struggle to acquire delivery supplies.
The distribution forms part of ongoing efforts by HEMTOG and its partners to improve maternal health outcomes and promote safe motherhood in rural communities.
