By KT Reporter
From Personal Tragedy to Public Service: The Unbroken Calling of a Pader Midwife
In 2023, as Rebecca Aryemo helped a mother deliver safely at Pader Health Center III, tragedy unfolded miles away from the delivery ward. Her own child drowned in a pool of water at home.
The loss would later tear her marriage apart, but it did not pull her away from the work she had dedicated her life to—saving mothers and newborns.
“I was heartbroken,” Aryemo said. “It pains me, but the calling I had made me go back to the facility and help pregnant mothers. Even when I am not on duty, my heart keeps calling me to report.”
Aryemo’s journey as a midwife began in 2007 at Kilak Health Center III in Pader Sub-county. After a year, she was transferred to Pajule Health Center to support the opening of a theatre, where she worked for five years.
She was later posted to Atanga Health Center III, at a time when both Atanga and Laguti were still Health Center IIs, with skeletal staffing and limited equipment.
At Atanga, Aryemo’s workload was overwhelming. She handled an average of 60 deliveries every month and attended to more than 500 antenatal care visits.
Long hours became routine, and leaving before the last patient was never an option. “I feel I should not even leave them. My principle is to see the last patient leave, and I leave later,” she said.
She credits her resilience to encouragement from her supervisors, particularly the Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Maternal and Child Health, Hannah Apiyo.
Beyond the health facility, Aryemo encountered deep-rooted social challenges that complicated maternal care. She noted that many men fail to support their wives during pregnancy and delivery, a situation often worsened by polygamy.
“Some men only support one wife and abandon the other,” she explained. “That woman becomes a burden, emotionally and socially, which makes handling her case very difficult.”
These realities meant that Aryemo’s work extended beyond clinical care to emotional support, counseling, and sometimes mediating family tensions—all while operating in under-resourced rural settings.
In 2023, after losing her child while on duty at Pader Health Center III, Aryemo returned to the maternity ward carrying silent grief.
Colleagues say she did not speak much about her loss, choosing instead to immerse herself in work. “Safe delivery by any mother makes me happy,” she said.
“When a mother leaves the facility with a healthy baby, that gives me strength.” Over the years, Aryemo estimates she has safely delivered more than 1,000 mothers.
Her dedication has also seen her deployed to facilities facing crises. At Awere Health Center III, where maternal deaths were alarmingly high, Aryemo worked with other health workers and community leaders to reverse the trend.
Through improved teamwork, community sensitization, and consistent presence, the number of maternal deaths dropped significantly.
Aryemo is also active in community outreach, encouraging women to attend antenatal clinics and deliver at health facilities, a practice that remains a challenge in some rural parts of northern Uganda. Her tireless service earned her national recognition at the 6th Heroes in Health Awards during the Inaugural Africa Health Summit held on November 14, 2025, at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
In a congratulatory letter, the Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, praised Aryemo for her contribution to advancing Uganda’s health system and strengthening maternal care.
Hannah Apiyo described Aryemo as one of the hardest-working staff members in the district, noting her willingness to serve wherever she is posted.
Assistant District Health Officer, Dominic Okidi, added that the award serves as motivation for health workers, pointing out that Aryemo has at times single-handedly managed facilities designed for three midwives.
Colleagues echo similar sentiments. Franka Scovia Laker said Aryemo works without discrimination and often supports mothers referred from neighboring facilities.
Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine also commended her resilience and personally supported her with one million shillings in recognition of her service.
Today, Aryemo advocates for mentoring and motivating rural health workers, arguing that emotional and professional support is critical to sustaining maternal health services in hard-to-reach areas.
Her personal loss did not silence her calling. Instead, it deepened her resolve—turning grief into a quiet force that continues to save lives, one delivery at a time.
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