The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) is calling for a review of the government ban on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), arguing that they play an important role in supporting expectant mothers, particularly in rural communities where access to health facilities remains limited.
The government banned services provided by Traditional Birth Attendants in 2010, directing expectant mothers to seek antenatal and delivery care from trained health professionals at health facilities. The ban was introduced amid concerns that traditional delivery practices were contributing to Uganda’s high maternal mortality rate.
However, CCFU Deputy Director Frederick Nsibambi says the organisation now wants the government to reconsider the policy and allow TBAs to operate under a regulated system, with training and supervision from health professionals.
Nsibambi says the proposed approach would involve identifying and training Traditional Birth Attendants so that they can safely support mothers at community level, particularly in emergencies and in areas where health facilities are difficult to reach.
While the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda acknowledges the risks associated with childbirth, the organisation argues that an outright ban on Traditional Birth Attendants has not addressed the challenges faced by women in remote communities.
CCFU is instead urging the government to identify, train and regulate TBAs, equipping them with basic skills to recognise danger signs, respond to emergencies and refer mothers to health facilities when necessary.
Some residents have also backed the proposal, saying that women in rural areas often have to travel long distances to reach health centres and may struggle to afford transport, especially when labour begins unexpectedly.
Caroline Ocanda, a cultural leader in Zombo District, says training and regulating Traditional Birth Attendants could improve maternal health outcomes in villages where access to health facilities remains a challenge.
Ocanda challenged the government to focus on building the capacity of women who assist mothers in villages, rather than banning them altogether, particularly by equipping them with skills to respond to complications such as excessive bleeding after childbirth.
The Ministry of Health recently reported that the country’s maternal mortality ratio had declined to 189 deaths per 100,000 live births. Despite the progress, Uganda remains far from the national and global target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
However, CCFU says strengthening community-based maternal health support, while ensuring that Traditional Birth Attendants operate within clear professional guidelines and referral systems, could complement services provided by formal health facilities and help bridge gaps in access to maternal care-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
