messages are delivered by locals, in the local languages, and these messages can be repeated and accessed any time. We believe that communities are more likely to learn and benefit from this information if it is context specific 6 i.e. Much of this information is not well present to the targeted populations who need it most and face the highest disease burden. A lot of knowledge and scientifically proven health interventions such as antenatal/postnatal care is not effectively utilized. Though the maternal, newborn and child health related information is available, it is not culture and context specific and is rarely delivered in a sustainable manner. Similar to most developing countries, in Uganda, the burden of maternal and child health morbidities and mortality is highest in rural areas which are least served by health services and are also least reached by effective behavior change communication for health 5.
According to the Health Sector Strategic Plan II, VHT structures exist in 80% of the districts in Uganda however, only 31% of the existing VHTs are functional. One of the ways of doing this is through the Village Health Teams (VHTs) strategy which also aims at providing the much needed health education. Uganda is implementing the Uganda Minimum Health Care Package which primarily aims at increasing awareness and promoting community participation in health care delivery and utilization through promoting health, preventing diseases and community health initiatives 4. It is evident that Sub Saharan Africa is still behind in achieving the recently launched Sustainable Development Goals that seek to reduce maternal, newborn and child health 3 among others.Īccording to the Uganda Health Sector Strategic plan II, maternal and child health, (MCH) conditions carry the highest (435 deaths per 100,000 live births) total burden despite the progress in improvement of the health of mothers and children. Some of the most important areas of concern in MCH are maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity, pregnancy related complications, pre-natal and post-natal care, immunization, family planning, care of the newborn among others 3. The World Health Organization defines maternal newborn and child health, as the health of mothers, infants, children and adolescents. Sub-Saharan Africa still faces major challenges despite the global progress to fight maternal and child morbidity/mortality 2.
Africa experiences 57.8% maternal related deaths out of the 350,000 deaths experienced globally 1.
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