As I was driving along Lugogo by-pass in Kampala, I noticed a woman walking in so much distress. She kept on walking and pausing for a few minutes as two individuals, one carrying her hospital utilities and the other carrying her newborn encouraged her on, asking her to take her time as they would be at the bus station soon. This lady had just been discharged from China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru. The sight of this, sent chills down my spine because being a mother I could only imagine what this new mother was going through. I therefore stopped and offered them a lift to the bus station that they were heading to, in order to get public means (taxi) to Lugazi town which is about an hours drive from Kampala. This scenario haunted me the whole of that day. I couldn’t help but think of how many new mothers go through the same episode, and have to walk long distances after being discharged with loads of pain and are still on heavy medication.
The joy and gratitude I received from this new mum, her husband and sister, made me realize the big need for mothers in this condition to be helped.
Having heard and read countless of cases where expectant mothers in Uganda especially those living in the rural areas lose their lives and those of their newborns because they cannot reach the nearest hospital in time and end up giving birth on the walk over or c-section mothers having stitches open up leading to excessive bleeding,newborns contracting various diseases, new mothers passing out in streets and taxis due to congestion and discomfort, I decided to teamed up with our mobilizers for a quick research and found out that women lack transportation to visit health centers as a result of poverty and some of the mothers who get to be rushed back to hospital in emergency situations are those who got to be transported in very rough conditions.
I believe safe and comfortable transportation for a expectant mother, new mother and her newborn/s is vital and a privilege every woman should enjoy. I am a mother of two and I know there is nothing as a comfortable ride to and from hospital as one continues to enjoy the joys of being a mother. These women and their newborns deserve that pleasure too and we are here to help them. Let's make motherhood safer, join us and support the cause!