June - July 2018

Celeberating new mum in 2015 class! No mother Kukundakwe Melody, Betty Asire, Na- or child should die bossa Damali, Racheal Babirye and Arica Juliet; congratulations on your bundles of joy! All born within in the last one month. STM’s networking E-newsletter for alumni, students and staff ISSUE No.35 June - July 2018

Save the Mothers (STM) has start- ed the process of reviewing the STM starts the MPHL Curriculum review Masters in Public Health Leadership (MPHL) curriculum to align it to the current trends at the national and international level.

The meeting which was held in Kampala, Uganda recently Left-Right: A cross section of faculty members was attended by about 16 faculty mem- at curriculum review meeting. Guest Speaker, bers representing maternal health, Prof Everd Maniple, STM Academics Director-Dr Thierry public health, research, communica- J Barageine, Rev E Mugarura & Dr O Setumbwe. Uhawenimana - tions and leadership courses. Bottom Right: Prof Florence Mirembe flanked by Dr M Mutabazi (L) & J Kawuba (R). Class 2011, Rwanda: “It is really a good The review process shall be enriched practice to review the curriculum and with input from key stakeholders who align it with the current needs. I am include students and alumni. The guest happy to contribute my ideas anytime.” news: speaker at the inaugural curriculum Wilson Agutu international class 2011, STM: Thierry, thank you for offering review meeting was Prof Everd Mani- Tanzania: “What a great move. I think this your availability to contribute. We ple, Vice Chancellor, Virtual Univer- might contribute to making the MPHL the shall contact you. sity of Uganda. most relevant program that corresponds with the changing environment. Bravo Dr Miriam STM network fraternity welcome the and the entire STM team.” UPDATES from STM Game Changers Congratulations STM-MPHL graduates Jude Okeria, Congratulations on your new job! Chief of Party for Promoting Peaceful Co-existence and Resilience Activity in Northern Uganda, a new project for Transcultural Psychosocial Organisa- tion (TPO). Jude (class 2015) has been at the helm of this project that focuses on peace building, psycho- Left: Hats in the air as we say: To God be the glory’. Congratulations to the seven July 2018 MPHL social and economic em- graduates. Right: The graduates joined by STM faculty and staff. Pascal Mulindwa, Penninah powerment since January Kyoyagala, Namazzi Damali, Bernard Opige, Reuben Ladu, Margaret Maki. STM staff and faculty: Fred Musisi (extreme right), Dr Miriam Mutabazi, STM East Africa Director (front middle in purple 2018. Sexual and Gender hood), Behind row: Dr Edward Mukoza and Juliet Kawuba. This was on 6 July 2018 at the Uganda Based Violence issues plus Christian University graduation ceremony. Deogratia Mabuga STM missed you at the ceremony. trauma are also addressed. Congraulations! Claire Kyokushaba - it was good linking MPHL information session in Arusha up with you STM alumni conducted Masters in Public Health Leadership (MPHL) information sessions in Arusha, Tanzania that gathered 20 participants. Wilson Agutu who lives and works in Arusha volunteered to support STM to plan, mobilise and ex- ecute this activity. He was assisted by Gladness Munno who travelled from Dar es Salaam to co-facilitate the session. Clare (middle) with STM’s T Agutu (L)& Dr M The preparation included seeking the venue, designing Mutabazi (R). and distributing invitation posters. The posters were During STM’s recent visit to Mwanza, distributed through social media. All Tanzania MPHL Save the Mothers hooked up with Claire, alumni participated in publicising the sessions. STM alumni class 2014. Claire who works with Health Child, Mbarara was Great Job! Asante sana STM alumni in Tanzania. on duty in Mwanza representing her Hogera Sana. Left to Right: Gladness & organisation that has a partnership with Wilson in Arusha Mama Na Mtoto, Tanzania. Save the Mothers Enewsletter, June - July 2018, Page 2 Safe motherhood lands among the pygmies in DRC By David Upoki It is confirmed that leaving women health problems in the hands of medical doc- tors, nurses, midwives and other medical professionals alone will never yield much results. Dealing with health problems re- quires contribution from all professionals.

After my first, second and third modules of Masters in Public Health Leadership (MPHL) at Save the mother, Uganda Christian University, I realized the im- portance of introducing safe motherhood David Upoki (extreme left) makes a presentation to pastors in Bunia, DRC about the place to my fellow pastors, and how it can be of safe motherhood in the church, integrated in our daily preaching. promote maternal and child health in Since people listen a lot to pastors, the the church. power of the pulpit should be used Because the women, mothers, and girls to integrate women health messages. who are dying from pregnancy and child- In DRC, maternal mortality and mor- Time has come for pastors to effec- birth related complications are our church bidity seems to be out of control: tively tackle maternal mortality from members. Not talking Maternal mortality is 846 per the pulpit. about maternal health is a Not talking 100,000 live birth, ranking the disservice to our congre- country as one of worst nations I pray that the Lord may open doors gation in this time when about in terms of maternal mortality. that I may continue to hold conferenc- maternal death is flood- maternal health es in DRC with pastors regarding the ing our homes with more Communities need to take bold integration of Safe motherhood and tears. is a disservice to initiatives to stand against the theology to tackle maternal mortality. our leading causes of maternal mor- I also pray that the Lord may open the Recently I organized a four tality and morbidity. door for us to have an FM radio sta- days theological confer- congregation in tion for sensitizing on maternal health ence in Bunia, Demo- this time when The conference discussions care. I also pray that I may complete cratic Republic of Congo revealed that in some tribes, my MPHL. (DRC) where pastors and maternal death culture such as early marriages church leaders attended. I is flooding prevent mothers and women The writer is an STM-MPHL student, introduced participants to from practising desired life sav- International class 2016. safe motherhood and three our homes ing behaviour. The discussion delays. with more tears. further revealed that many men The purpose of the confer- and husbands beat their wives as ence was to equip pastors if beating snakes. Meet the Stronger with safe motherhood information to Together Founders Midwifery Mentorship & Coaching: MBFHI By Teopista Agutu With support from Stronger Togeth- er, Save the Mothers rolled out the mentorship and coaching project for midwives across its 9 Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative sites. Dr Miriam Mutabazi, Director STM East Africa met the founders of 27 Midwives from these 9 MBFHI Stronger Together grant during her hospitals gathered in Mityana dis- Midwives who attended the mentorship pose visit to Canada recently. trict, Central Uganda at Enro Hotel in for a photo with their facilitators. Below: Dr Eve Nakabembe stresses a point to midwives. “We are truly thankful to God for June 2018 to attend the mentorship their kindness and generosity to and coaching sessions. The mentor- STM and so many other pro- ship sessions focused on the role of jects across the Globe. A strong leadership and communication skills Chsiristan family who have in midwifery practice. supported STM on several occas- sions over the years. May God The 9 sites are Mukono Health Centre continue to guide us as we work IV, Naggalama, Kawolo, Mubende, on empowering midwives in hos- Mityana, Nakaseke, Tororo, Mbale, pitals across the country.” Dr Eve and Kagando hospitals. Nakabembe, MPHI Director. Save the Mothers Enewsletter, June - July 2018, Page 3

Scott and Monica Radely, it Friends of Save the Mothers was a pleasure having you visit Save the Mothers and picking interest in one of the MBFHI sites: Mukono Health Centre IV in June 2018. Touring the health facility with Dr Miriam.Welcome to the world: The Radley join these mothers to give glory to good for safe deliveries - healthy mothers and healthy babies. STM at Naggalama Hospital’s Health Assembly

By Lillian Tushabe & T Agutu

On 22 June 2018 Save the Mothers was privileged to join St. Francis Hospital Naggalama’s health assembly.

The assembly that gathered differ- ent community leaders opened up Women in armed forces: Uganda police Sister Jane Frances (extreme left) joined by the hospital doors to the community officers at the hospital health assembly. community leaders. members to showcase the services offered while highlighting the costs for these services. Mission to Tanzania The assembly was attended by reli- gious, community and district leaders STM Partnership with Mama Na Mtoto in Mwanza and hospital partners such as Save the Save the Mothers Mothers. (STM) team led by the director, Dr Naggalama Hospital under the leader- Miriam Mutabazi ship of Sr Jane Frances Nakafeero also conducted a visit to used this opportunity to publicly share Mwanza, Tanzania with community leaders and members to promote Mother the hospital income and expenditure Baby Friendly Hos- Clockwise from top left: MBFHI seminar participants pose for a group to promote transparency and account- pital Initiative under photo. A cross section of participants during the seminar. ability. a partnership with Dr Miriam holds discussions with District Medical Officer (DMO), Mama Na Mtoto Misungwi district, Dr Zaburoni. Dr Miriam checks the Mbarika health St Francis Hospital Naggalama which (MnM) project. facility ambulance emergency readiness regarding equipment & sup- is located in Kayunga, central Uganda plies. Dr Miriam poses for a photo with the ambulance driver. is one of STM’s Mother Baby Friendly Hospitals. The visit was conducted between 8 to 15 July 2018. During the visit Save the Mothers Save the Mothers East Africa conducted MBFHI - STM EA, Uganda Christian community dialogues University, Mukono. in four health facilities in Misungwi district, www.stmeastafrica.org, Mwanza. sponsored construction of an operat- ing theatre. T Agutu, Networking/Communi- The health facilities are Misasi, cations Director STM East Africa Mwawile, Nyamayinza and Mbarika. In Nyamayinza the community health (Editor/graphic designer) - Further Save the Mothers also con- workers and community leaders 256-772311498, ducted a seminar on MBFHI in Mis- mobilised community members to [email protected] ungwi for health workers, community start construction of a maternity ward health workers, community health which was raised from the foundation Contributors: David Upoki, Lilian workers and health facility governance level to the ring beam level. Tushabe leadership. ‘ Communities were concerned about Photographers: Save the Mothers supports the four lack of visual and audio privacy for Paddy, L Tushabe, I Mwase, T Agutu health facilities with clinical mentor- mothers in the present small labour ships while implementing the MBFHI ward that can only accommodate one Reviewers: Dr M Mutabazi, Director 10 steps. At Mbarika health facility, bed. Today with support from Save -STM East Africa), Dr E Nakabembe STM in partnership with Crossroads the Mothers the ward construction is -MBFHI Director, Dr J Barageine - about to be completed. Academics Director