Uganda’s National Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) Champion and Ambassador for Safe Motherhood, Mrs. Charlotte Kainerugaba, has launched a National Blood Donation Drive as part of the National PPH Awareness Campaign, calling on both men and women to make blood donation a regular habit.
The campaign seeks to raise awareness about postpartum haemorrhage, a major threat to women during and after childbirth, while encouraging communities to contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring that blood is readily available for mothers who experience severe bleeding.
A woman experiencing severe postpartum haemorrhage can lose more than a litre of blood and may require several units of blood to save her life. Mrs. Kainerugaba said regular blood donation can play an important role in ensuring that hospitals have adequate supplies when emergencies arise.
She urged eligible members of the public to embrace voluntary blood donation as a simple but potentially life-saving act.
“Every donation can help save a mother’s life,” the campaign message emphasises, as Uganda continues efforts to reduce preventable maternal deaths.
Mrs. Kainerugaba also commended the Government of Uganda for eliminating user fees on essential maternal health commodities, describing the move as an important step towards making critical maternal healthcare more accessible to women during pregnancy and childbirth.
She further called on expectant mothers to attend antenatal care regularly so that health complications can be identified and treated early.
The call comes amid concerns over stillbirths in Uganda. The country recorded an estimated 25,855 stillbirths in 2022, while studies have shown that women who miss antenatal care face a significantly higher risk of experiencing stillbirth.
According to Mrs. Kainerugaba, antenatal care provides an important opportunity for healthcare workers to monitor the health of both mother and baby and identify conditions such as anaemia, which can increase the risks associated with childbirth.
She encouraged pregnant women to attend antenatal appointments and follow medical advice throughout pregnancy, while urging families and communities to support women in accessing timely maternal healthcare.
The National PPH Awareness Campaign is expected to strengthen public understanding of postpartum haemorrhage and promote practical measures—including antenatal care and blood donation—that can help prevent maternal deaths and improve safe motherhood outcomes across Uganda.
