Uganda sent troops to Somalia to contribute to the peace in that region and she is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Prior to the summit, an African Youth forum will be held in Entebbe from July 17 to 19. This is a good initiative by the African governments to involve young people in matters that will affect their future.
Uganda, like many African nations, has limited resources to provide quality health services for mothers, infants and children. The main causes of mothers deaths are bleeding, infections, abortions and obstructed labour, among others.
Despite advancement and availability of technology interventions to save mothers and babies, maternal deaths have continued to rise. As the African heads of state and leaders meet, they should focus on issues of violence, human rights, education and poverty. These are some of the key causes of maternal and infant mortality.
With an increasing range of devices for communication and disseminating information, mobile and electronic health applications are powerful tools in solving health problems.
We can use technology to share information on health matters, monitor treatment of patients and health workers. Given the fact that mobile phones have been adopted by many women in rural areas all over Africa, it is important for African governments to invest in mobile technology and e-health applications.
The health ministry should partner with organisations and institutions like the Faculty of Information Technology at Makerere, SMS media, UNICEF and others through their SMS health campaigns, as a starting point in solving the problem of maternal deaths.
If the Millenium Development Goal of reducing deaths for newborns and mothers is to be achieved in the remaining five years, our leaders have to walk the talk.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Maureen Agena
Quelle/Source: The New Vision, 22.06.2010
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