CDFU staff detailing IEC Materials used for campaigns.

Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies was the theme for this year’s Safe Motherhood Day Celebrations, organized by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with Mayuge district and stakeholders involved in Safe Motherhood activities.

The celebrations took place at Kigandalo Sub County, Mayuge district on October 30, 2009. The chief guest was the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Stephen O. Malinga who emphasized the issue of appropriate age for one to start having children. He said  people should take into account when to start giving birth.

He cautioned that giving birth early (below 18 years) leads to too frequent births, leading to too many children, “breeding” health complications in women’s lives. He emphasized the need to focus on the unmet need for family planning.

On his part, the LC5 Chairman of Mayuge urged men to support their wives to practice family planning. He said there can never be a healthy mother without a responsible father. He further pointed out the lack of male involvement in family planning, the desire for many children and water scarcity as the three major problems affecting the health of women in Mayuge district.

Over 20 organizations graced the event by providing services and products in their respective exhibition stalls that promoted health for mothers and the entire community. CDFU displayed materials produced for different campaigns and projects promoting Safe Motherhood. The materials displayed included; Flip Charts, Posters,   Comic books, Flyers and trigger video CDs.

Other activities of the day included:

• Cervical cancer screening (by the Uganda Cancer Institute).
• Provision of Health Communication materials (Fact sheets, leaflets and posters) to the public.
• Enter-educate activities such as music, dance and drama performances with messages related to family planning.