Sweden’s support enhances survival rates for preterm babies at Kawempe and other regional hospitals

Inside Uganda’s busiest hospital maternity wards, teenage mothers and their premature babies benefit from upgraded facilities and ongoing international collaboration

By Moses Sserwanga

Ruth Nabwire (not her real name), aged 17, is one of many young mothers whose preterm baby was admitted to the remodeled Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kawempe Government Referral Hospital in Uganda’s capital, Kampala as of 4th November 2025.

Every four hours, she joins other mothers in the congested NICU to breastfeed and care for their preterm babies under close supervision by hospital staff. The young mother was particularly glad about the NICU’s modern equipment; without it her preterm baby, delivered three weeks ago and weighing slightly more than 1.2kg, would likely have died.

“I'm happy to be here because the caring medical staff have assured me that my baby girl will survive, and I will be discharged in two weeks. I was admitted with infections to the High Dependency Unit (HDU), and the doctors and nurses determined that I needed surgery and that my preterm baby had to be moved to the NICU, where she is now under specialized care and observation. The doctors allow us in to breastfeed and care for our babies,” Nabwire explained, smiling.

According to the hospital’s Executive Director, Dr Emmanuel Byaruhanga Kayongoza, Kawempe Government Referral Hospital (KGRH) is a 200-bed facility and one of the busiest maternity units in Africa. This translates to an immense workload for the hospital staff and associated resources. The hospital handles thousands of deliveries – at least 21,000 – and other emergency obstetric cases annually. On average, the hospital receives 80 expectant mothers, and 100 babies are delivered each day.

This reflects the significantly disproportionate burden of maternal and newborn mortality, with Kawempe National Referral Hospital contributing about 60 per cent of institutional maternal and perinatal mortality in the Kampala Metropolitan Area (Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi districts). Kampala currently records an institutional mortality rate of 222.8 per 100,000, the highest in Uganda compared with other regions. The national average stands at 38.8 deaths per 1,000 births, which is double the national average of earlier years which stood at 18.5 per 1,000 births.

For Dr Loy B. Nabirye, a neonatologist and pediatrician at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, says it is a busy routine managing a high rate of teenage pregnancies and related complications. On average, the hospital receives about 150 teenage pregnancies per week. This reflects the teenage pregnancy rate, which stood at 28 per cent for 2024–2025.

“The numbers can be overwhelming given the limited facilities and resources available. We are very grateful to the Government of Sweden, which, through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF Uganda), generously funded the remodeling and reorganization of service Neonatologist Dr Loy B. Nabirye briefs Swedish Members of Parliament on neonatal care during their visit to the UNICEF-supported Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, KampalaNeonatologist Dr Loy B. Nabirye briefs Swedish Members of Parliament on neonatal care during their visit to the UNICEF-supported Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, KampalaNeonatologist Dr Loy B. Nabirye briefs Swedish Members of Parliament on neonatal care during their visit to the UNICEF-supported Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampaladelivery at the HDU and NICU to manage severe obstetric cases,” Nabirye stated.

Nabirye revealed that since 2019, the strong partnership with the SwNeonatologist Dr Loy B. Nabirye briefs Swedish Members of Parliament on neonatal care during their visit to the UNICEF-supported Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampalaedish Government through UNICEF has significantly contributed to improvements in the quality-of-service delivery, ensuring better health outcomes for both mothers and their babies- All pictures By Zahara Abdul/UNICEF

“UNICEF has supported us to provide essential newborn equipment including mechanical ventilators, patient monitors, CPAP machines, radiant warmers, transcutaneous bilirubinometers, 10 baby incubators, infusion pumps and wall oxygen extension and baby cots, among others,” Nabirye said.

Some of this equipment has also been provided at Bwera General and Fort Portal Referral hospitals with the same support from Sweden through UNICEF.

To follow up on this important Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Swedish Government, in fulfilment of the rights of the most vulnerable in the least developed countries, including children, a delegation of eight Swedish Members of Parliament and staff from UNICEF Sweden undertook a field visit to Uganda.

The MPs represented eight political parties in Sweden and included Katrina Tolgfors, Martina Johansson, Magnus Berntsson, Yasmine Eriksson, Joar Forsell, Janine Alm Ericson, Markus Kauppinen and Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez. They were accompanied by two staff members from UNICEF Sweden, Karin Strömstedt and Erik Windmar.

They were joined in Kampala by the UNICEF Representative to Uganda, Dr Robin Nandy; Dr Yaron Wolman, Chief of Child Survival and Development at UNICEF Uganda; and Adam Kahsai Rudebeck, the Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden. During the visit, the Swedish MPs were warmly welcomed at UNICEF-supported facilities including Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Bwera General Hospital in Kasese, Kamwenge (refugee-hosting) District, and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Kabarole District.

At Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Dr Nabirye told the visiting MPs that the facility turnover is around 650 neonates per month, meaning the hospital manages between 80 to 130 neonates daily, of which about 60 per cent are premature with low birth weight (LBW) between 0.5kg and 2.49kg. Following UNICEF support, the hospital has established a high care unit (HCU) to manage preterm babies, a high care term unit, an intermediate care unit, and a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit (KMC), achieving a survival rate of 83 per cent for preterm babies.

In Kasese, the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Paul Walakila, told the Swedish MPs that the district is a hotspot for epidemic-prone diseases and meteorological disasters influenced by geography, climate and mobility across its porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Outbreaks of Ebola, cholera and measles have occurred, while malaria and HIV remain major endemic health burdens.

Walakila noted that despite these challenges, with Sweden’s support through UNICEF, the district has procured a specialized NICU and basic maternal and newborn resuscitation equipment at Bwera Hospital. “We have also trained Village Health Teams (VHTs) and implemented robust integrated community outreach to address teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence,” he said, citing a 24-year-old grandmother whose 12-year-old daughter gave birth in Mukunyu Sub-County. He thanked the Swedish Government for enabling health reporting systems and interventions to raise community awareness about child pregnancies, gender-based violence, child abandonment and child labour, among other issues.

With support from UNICEF, the district has trained over 1,000 model parents and 5,930 adolescents in child protection, sexual and reproductive health, and life skills. Due to limited access to immunization services and harder-to-reach populations, Kasese District organizes four outreach sessions per month to provide immunization, antenatal care, nutrition education and growth monitoring for children under five. Outreach sessions are conducted jointly by health workers and VHTs, with support from the Ugandan government and development partners, including UNICEF.

The Swedish MPs visited households in Mpondwe Town Council and interacted with model parents and VHTs to understand community mobilization and the para-social services they offer in their areas of operation. In Nyabugando Ward, Ms Monica Masika, a para-social worker, was seen conducting one of the weekly VHT community health outreaches where mothers gather and are trained on preparing nutritious meals for their children, ensuring immunization and reporting cases of child abuse, neglect and gender-based violence.

The nursing officer in charge of the neonatal ward at Bwera General Hospital, Ms Doreen Mbabazi, guided the MPs on a tour of the newly constructed NICU, which has improved the treatment of children. The MPs spoke with two mothers who gave birth to preterm babies weighing 0.4 kg and 0.6 kg. Thanks to the modern equipment installed at the facility, the babies were well managed, gained weight and were discharged.

At Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, the MPs visited the In-Patient Therapeutic Centre (ITC), where severely malnourished children are treated and parents trained on balanced diets. Wilson Bwambale, a father of twin boys, was at the ITC receiving care for his two-year-old malnourished sons. He expressed gratitude to the MPs for the visit and for Sweden’s support in strengthening Uganda’s health systems. On-the-job mentorship and coaching for facility staff in maternal, infant, young child and adolescent nutrition (MIYCAN), Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and Baby-Friendly Health Facility Initiatives (BFHI) are provided at the hospital.

Dr Archbald Newton Bahizi Sebahire, Senior Executive Consultant at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, noted that the regional infant mortality rate is 46 deaths per 1,000 live births, higher than the national average of 34 deaths. He also noted that adolescent childbearing (ages 10–19) stands at 7.2 per cent, higher than the national average of 6.5 per cent.

Dr Bahizi said the hospital plans to construct and equip a maternal-children ward complex to address infrastructure limitations and deliver patient-centred care, improving health outcomes for mothers and children. Dr Daniel Murokora, a Reproductive Health Advisor at the Ugandan Ministry of Health, told the Swedish delegation that UNICEF has also provided critical support to the Ugandan government during epidemic outbreaks such as Ebola, mpox, and Covid-19.

“We have deployed these resources in a transparent manner by establishing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure interventions. These interventions have helped to stem the spread of deadly diseases in Uganda and beyond,” he stated.

Scaling up and sustainability

Uganda’s Director General of Health Services, Dr Charles Olaro, thanked the Swedish Government for the continued support through UNICEF, which has helped to bridge gaps in emergency preparedness and set the stage for scaling up and ensuring sustainability in the long term.

“The UNICEF support has catalyzed reforms in surveillance, digital health and regulatory systems, and we are truly grateful. There has also been increased capacity building. We have trained managers in leadership skills and healthcare professionals in neonatal care. This has strengthened hospitals’ ability to provide sustainable, high-quality care,” Olaro told the Swedish delegation.

Dr Olaro said that for all the hospitals where UNICEF has offered support, the Government of Uganda will establish expanded, dedicated facilities for antenatal and neonatal care. Already, Kawempe National Referral Hospital has established a separate centre for pregnant teenagers to shield them from victimization and stigma.

The UNICEF Country Representative, Dr Robin Nandy, urged health providers to take advantage of the support offered by the Swedish Government to scale up services and to put plans in place to ensure sustainability in the long term.

Swedish Members of Parliament speak out

The Swedish MPs expressed satisfaction with the services being delivered as a direct result of Official Development Assistance extended to Uganda by the Government of Sweden.

“We are delighted to learn and see that with support from Sweden, the Government of Uganda is able to offer these critical health services to the citizens of Uganda, especially mothers and children. We will encourage ongoing dialogue between our two governments to ensure that support continues and is directed to the identified priority areas,” Katarina Tolgfors stated.

Janine Alm Ericson and Martina Johansson called for the scaling-up of interventions to cover as many Ugandans as possible. Magnus Berntsson and Joar Forsell expressed appreciation for the specialized care extended to child mothers to deal with post-birth stress, and the training extended to them to look after their newborn babies.

The writer is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda , Stakeholder Engagements ,Media and Communications Consultant

Email:msserwanga@gmail.com

UNICEF-Uganda , sanitation in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Kamwenge Uganda

 

How a market-based approach is delivering durable toilets, safe water and healthier futures in Uganda’s refugee-hosting district

By Moses Sserwanga

In Uganda’s refugee-hosting district of Kamwenge, Byabasambu is a selected model village where a comprehensive programme to enhance sanitation and hygiene, and promote infection prevention and control (IPC) at community level, is being implemented with the support of UNICEF Uganda.

For the last five years, communities have been mobilized in cluster model villages and sensitized to abandon the long-standing practice of open defecation. Households are encouraged to construct modern, sustainable toilet facilities under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme, which has registered tremendous success in reducing the disease burden in this remote district.

Kamwenge, which has a large refugee population accounting for about half of the 552,000 residents, has hitherto faced many challenges, and access to social services such as safe water, health care and education remains limited in many hard-to-reach areas. In response to these challenges, the Government of Uganda through district leadership championed by the Local Council V Chairman, Joseph Kalungi, is implementing the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) outreach programme, which is now transitioning to a Market-Based Sanitation Improvement Approach (MBSIA) to address slippage and foster the construction of more durable and climate-resilient sanitation structures.

Getrude Kengonzi, an environmental health officer, explained that the new MBSIA is a facilitated approach of community collective action that encourages household investment in basic improved sanitation products such as toilets, delivered through a network model characterized by sales agents (sanitation promoters), linked with well-trained and capable masons.

At his home in Kamwenge District, Godfrey Mony demonstrates how he uses a tippy-tap made from locally available materials, part of community hygiene practices promoted through WASH interventions. All pictures by Zahara Abdul/UNICEF

Grace Bonabana and Godfrey Moni are among the hundreds of community members who have embraced the MBSIA programme in the remote village of Byabasambu, Lukunyu Town Council, Kyakanyemera Sub-County, Kamwenge District. Their clean, well-maintained homesteads were among those visited by a delegation of eight Swedish MPs who have been in Uganda on a fact-finding mission to assess firsthand the impact of Official Development Assistance (ODA) extended to Uganda by the Swedish Government.

The MPs, representing eight political parties in Sweden, included Katrina Tolgfors, Martina Johansson, Magnus Berntsson, Yasmine Eriksson, Joar Forsell, Janine Alm Ericson, Markus Kauppinen and Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez. They were accompanied by two staff members from UNICEF Sweden, Karin Strömstedt and Erik Windmar. In Kamwenge, they were joined by the UNICEF Representative to Uganda, Dr Robin Nandy; Chief of Child Survival and Development, UNICEF Uganda, Dr Yaron Wolman; and the Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden, Adam Kahsai Rudebeck.

Bonabana and Moni gave moving testimonies to the visiting Swedish MPs about how their lives have been transformed by the CLTS and MBSIA UNICEF-supported interventions.

“Very few homes had sanitation facilities in this village. People used to go to the bush to ease themselves. It was open defecation for many homesteads and families. Poor sanitation led to the spread of diseases like cholera and dysentery, a gastrointestinal infection that causes severe diarrhea with fever, abdominal pain and vomiting,” Bonabana told the Swedish visitors.

Moni said the situation has since improved. “We are much better now. Most households have climate-resilient and sustainable toilets, and the disease burden is reducing. Community members can now save money to take their children to school and improve their families’ welfare,” he said.

Both Bonabana and Moni showed the visitors their newly constructed smart toilets, raised drying racks for house utensils, handwashing facilities, home-based income-generating activities such as chicken and goat rearing, and well-maintained gardens where households plant nutritious foods for their families to improve their nutrition.

For Kengonzi, the CLTS and MBSIA initiatives have been a blessing for the people of Kamwenge. “A comprehensive capacity-building programme was conducted for extension workers and community leaders to enhance local sanitation management skills. 78 masons were trained and empowered to construct sustainable and climate-resilient sanitation facilities, thereby contributing to local economic development. The programme has also improved basic sanitation services for 27,600 households through the distribution of 1,000 sato pans and community education initiatives,” she revealed.

According to Dr William Mucunguzi, Kamwenge District Health Officer and UNICEF focal person, WASH infrastructure development has led to the construction of latrine facilities in three primary schools, including provisions for menstrual hygiene management. “Latrine facilities have been constructed in two healthcare facilities, and handwashing stations installed across all stations. Chlorine generators have been installed in three healthcare facilities to ensure a safe water supply, and 29 health workers and political leaders across 30 schools have been trained to foster a culture of hygiene and infection prevention,” he said.

Impact, scaling up and sustainability

Dr Mucunguzi noted that the interventions have yielded significant positive impacts on the community, schools and healthcare facilities. He observed that with CLTS and now MBSIA, the district has progressed from 86 per cent latrine coverage in 2019 to 95.3 per cent currently.

“Through the implementation of the MBSIA approach adopted in the past two years, six sub-counties have been supported reaching 121 villages, and 27,600 households now have access to basic sanitation services. This has led to improved health outcomes and reduced incidences of sanitation-related diseases,” he added.

Kalungi thanked the Swedish Government for its continued support to Uganda, noting that it has transformed the lives of many Ugandans including vulnerable communities such as refugees. “Uganda has an open-door policy when it comes to refugees. When services like education, health, sanitation and nutrition are offered to communities, we do not discriminate between nationals and refugees. These services are accessed by everyone in the community, including refugees," he said.

“WASH interventions have reduced sanitation- and hygiene-related illnesses, including diarrheal diseases and intestinal worms. This has had a ripple effect on child development with fewer sick days, reduced malnutrition and improved cognitive performance, especially in early childhood,” he added.

The creation and training of village sanitation promoters, sanitation entrepreneurs and VHTs has established a grassroots mechanism for ongoing hygiene promotion. The training of local masons and the active engagement of the community have fostered a sustainable approach to sanitation.

“The construction of latrine facilities and healthcare facilities in schools has elevated hygiene standards, promoting the health and well-being of students and patients. We have formed and trained water boards, and Kamwenge is now a district water authority. To ensure continuity and scaling up of services, district officials are also training mechanics in the operation and maintenance of water systems; training school health clubs in menstrual health and liquid soap making; and strengthening school management structures on WASH. We are encouraging the formation, training and transformation of masons’ associations into economic enterprises to ensure sustainability,” Kalungi said.

UNICEF-supported sanitation, therefore, have significantly improved the health, safety and dignity of children and communities in Kamwenge District. However, for the district to consolidate these gains and achieve universal access to basic sanitation, further investment and partnership will be essential. UNICEF’s catalytic role has demonstrated scalable impact and laid a strong foundation for sustainable WASH systems.

The writer is a Media and Communications Consultant/ Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

Editor;msserwanga@gmail.com

Sweden’s support enhances survival rates for preterm babies at Kawempe and other regional hospitals

 

By Moses Sserwanga 

Ruth Nabwire (not her real name), aged 17, is one of many young mothers whose preterm baby was admitted to the remodeled Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kawempe Government Referral Hospital in Uganda’s capital, Kampala as of 4^th November 2025.

Every four hours, she joins other mothers in the congested NICU to breastfeed and care for their preterm babies under close supervision by hospital staff. The young mother was particularly glad about the NICU’s modern equipment; without it her preterm baby, delivered three weeks ago and weighing slightly more than 1.2kg, would likely have died.

“I'm happy to be here because the caring medical staff have assured me that my baby girl will survive, and I will be discharged in two weeks. I was admitted with infections to the High Dependency Unit (HDU), and the doctors and nurses determined that I needed surgery and that my preterm baby had to be moved to the NICU, where she is now under specialized care and observation. The doctors allow us in to breastfeed and care for our babies,” Nabwire explained, smiling.

According to the hospital’s Executive Director, Dr Emmanuel Byaruhanga Kayongoza, Kawempe Government Referral Hospital (KGRH) is a 200-bed facility and one of the busiest maternity units in Africa. This translates to an immense workload for the hospital staff and associated resources. The hospital handles thousands of deliveries – at least 21,000 – and other emergency obstetric cases annually. On average, the hospital receives 80 expectant mothers, and 100 babies are delivered each day.

This reflects the significantly disproportionate burden of maternal and newborn mortality, with Kawempe National Referral Hospital contributing about 60 per cent of institutional maternal and perinatal mortality in the Kampala Metropolitan Area (Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi districts). Kampala currently records an institutional mortality rate of 222.8 per 100,000, the highest in Uganda compared with other regions. The national average stands at 38.8 deaths per 1,000 births, which is double the national average of earlier years which stood at 18.5 per 1,000 births.

 .Neonatologist Dr Loy B. Nabirye briefs Swedish Members of Parliament on neonatal care during their visit to the UNICEF-supported Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampala

For Dr Loy B. Nabirye, a neonatologist and pediatrician at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, says it is a busy routine managing a high rate of teenage pregnancies and related complications. On average, the hospital receives about 150 teenage pregnancies per week. This reflects the teenage pregnancy rate, which stood at 28 per cent for 2024–2025.

“The numbers can be overwhelming given the limited facilities and resources available. We are very grateful to the Government of Sweden, which, through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF Uganda), generously funded the remodeling and reorganization of service delivery at the HDU and NICU to manage severe obstetric cases,” Nabirye stated.

Nabirye revealed that since 2019, the strong partnership with the Swedish Government through UNICEF has significantly contributed to improvements in the quality-of-service delivery, ensuring better health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.

“UNICEF has supported us to provide essential newborn equipment including mechanical ventilators, patient monitors, CPAP machines, radiant warmers, transcutaneous bilirubinometers, 10 baby incubators, infusion pumps and wall oxygen extension and baby cots, among others,” Nabirye said.

Some of this equipment has also been provided at Bwera General and Fort Portal Referral hospitals with the same support from Sweden through UNICEF.

To follow up on this important Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Swedish Government, in fulfilment of the rights of the most vulnerable in the least developed countries, including children, a delegation of eight Swedish Members of Parliament and staff from UNICEF Sweden undertook a field visit to Uganda.

The MPs represented eight political parties in Sweden and included Katrina Tolgfors, Martina Johansson, Magnus Berntsson, Yasmine Eriksson, Joar Forsell, Janine Alm Ericson, Markus Kauppinen and Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez. They were accompanied by two staff members from UNICEF Sweden, Karin Strömstedt and Erik Windmar. 

They were joined in Kampala by the UNICEF Representative to Uganda, Dr Robin Nandy; Dr Yaron Wolman, Chief of Child Survival and Development at UNICEF Uganda; and Adam Kahsai Rudebeck, the Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden. During the visit, the Swedish MPs were warmly welcomed at UNICEF-supported facilities including Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Bwera General Hospital in Kasese, Kamwenge (refugee-hosting) District, and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Kabarole District.

At Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Dr Nabirye told the visiting MPs that the facility turnover is around 650 neonates per month, meaning the hospital manages between 80 to 130 neonates daily, of which about 60 per cent are premature with low birth weight (LBW) between 0.5kg and 2.49kg. Following UNICEF support, the hospital has established a high care unit (HCU) to manage preterm babies, a high care term unit, an intermediate care unit, and a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit (KMC), achieving a survival rate of 83 per cent for preterm babies.

In Kasese, the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Paul Walakila, told the Swedish MPs that the district is a hotspot for epidemic-prone diseases and meteorological disasters influenced by geography, climate and mobility across its porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Outbreaks of Ebola, cholera and measles have occurred, while malaria and HIV remain major endemic health burdens.

Walakila noted that despite these challenges, with Sweden’s support through UNICEF, the district has procured a specialized NICU and basic maternal and newborn resuscitation equipment at Bwera Hospital. “We have also trained Village Health Teams (VHTs) and implemented robust integrated community outreach to address teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence,” he said, citing a 24-year-old grandmother whose 12-year-old daughter gave birth in Mukunyu Sub-County. He thanked the Swedish Government for enabling health reporting systems and interventions to raise community awareness about child pregnancies, gender-based violence, child abandonment and child labour, among other issues.

With support from UNICEF, the district has trained over 1,000 model parents and 5,930 adolescents in child protection, sexual and reproductive health, and life skills. Due to limited access to immunization services and harder-to-reach populations, Kasese District organizes four outreach sessions per month to provide immunization, antenatal care, nutrition education and growth monitoring for children under five. Outreach sessions are conducted jointly by health workers and VHTs, with support from the Ugandan government and development partners, including UNICEF.

The Swedish MPs visited households in Mpondwe Town Council and interacted with model parents and VHTs to understand community mobilization and the para-social services they offer in their areas of operation. In Nyabugando Ward, Ms Monica Masika, a para-social worker, was seen conducting one of the weekly VHT community health outreaches where mothers gather and are trained on preparing nutritious meals for their children, ensuring immunization and reporting cases of child abuse, neglect and gender-based violence.

The nursing officer in charge of the neonatal ward at Bwera General Hospital, Ms Doreen Mbabazi, guided the MPs on a tour of the newly constructed NICU, which has improved the treatment of children. The MPs spoke with two mothers who gave birth to preterm babies weighing 0.4 kg and 0.6 kg. Thanks to the modern equipment installed at the facility, the babies were well managed, gained weight and were discharged.

At Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, the MPs visited the In-Patient Therapeutic Centre (ITC), where severely malnourished children are treated and parents trained on balanced diets. Wilson Bwambale, a father of twin boys, was at the ITC receiving care for his two-year-old malnourished sons. He expressed gratitude to the MPs for the visit and for Sweden’s support in strengthening Uganda’s health systems. On-the-job mentorship and coaching for facility staff in maternal, infant, young child and adolescent nutrition (MIYCAN), Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and Baby-Friendly Health Facility Initiatives (BFHI) are provided at the hospital.

Dr Archbald Newton Bahizi Sebahire, Senior Executive Consultant at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, noted that the regional infant mortality rate is 46 deaths per 1,000 live births, higher than the national average of 34 deaths. He also noted that adolescent childbearing (ages 10–19) stands at 7.2 per cent, higher than the national average of 6.5 per cent.

Dr Bahizi said the hospital plans to construct and equip a maternal-children ward complex to address infrastructure limitations and deliver patient-centred care, improving health outcomes for mothers and children. Dr Daniel Murokora, a Reproductive Health Advisor at the Ugandan Ministry of Health, told the Swedish delegation that UNICEF has also provided critical support to the Ugandan government during epidemic outbreaks such as Ebola, mpox, and Covid-19.

“We have deployed these resources in a transparent manner by establishing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure interventions. These interventions have helped to stem the spread of deadly diseases in Uganda and beyond,” he stated.

Scaling up and sustainability

Uganda’s Director General of Health Services, Dr Charles Olaro, thanked the Swedish Government for the continued support through UNICEF, which has helped to bridge gaps in emergency preparedness and set the stage for scaling up and ensuring sustainability in the long term.

“The UNICEF support has catalyzed reforms in surveillance, digital health and regulatory systems, and we are truly grateful. There has also been increased capacity building. We have trained managers in leadership skills and healthcare professionals in neonatal care. This has strengthened hospitals’ ability to provide sustainable, high-quality care,” Olaro told the Swedish delegation.

Dr Olaro said that for all the hospitals where UNICEF has offered support, the Government of Uganda will establish expanded, dedicated facilities for antenatal and neonatal care. Already, Kawempe National Referral Hospital has established a separate centre for pregnant teenagers to shield them from victimization and stigma.

The UNICEF Country Representative, Dr Robin Nandy, urged health providers to take advantage of the support offered by the Swedish Government to scale up services and to put plans in place to ensure sustainability in the long term.

Swedish Members of Parliament speak out

The Swedish MPs expressed satisfaction with the services being delivered as a direct result of Official Development Assistance extended to Uganda by the Government of Sweden.

“We are delighted to learn and see that with support from Sweden, the Government of Uganda is able to offer these critical health services to the citizens of Uganda, especially mothers and children. We will encourage ongoing dialogue between our two governments to ensure that support continues and is directed to the identified priority areas,” Katarina Tolgfors stated.

Janine Alm Ericson and Martina Johansson called for the scaling-up of interventions to cover as many Ugandans as possible. Magnus Berntsson and Joar Forsell expressed appreciation for the specialized care extended to child mothers to deal with post-birth stress, and the training extended to them to look after their newborn babies.

Email;msserwanga@gmail.com

All Photos by Zahara Abdul