KAMPALA — The distance to the nearest health facility can mean the difference between life and death for a woman in labour. Even after reaching a facility, her survival may depend on the availability of skilled health workers, functioning equipment and an effective referral system when complications arise.
It is against this backdrop that Stanbic Bank Uganda and Rotary Mama Toto Care Uganda have entered a three-year, Sh600 million partnership aimed at strengthening public health facilities and reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at Stanbic Bank’s Learning and Development Centre in Kampala, Stanbic Bank Executive Director Paul Muganwa said maternal health should be treated not only as a health concern but also as a national economic priority.
“Uganda has set itself an ambitious goal of growing its economy to USD500 billion by 2040. We cannot achieve that vision if women, who are the backbone of our families, communities and future workforce, continue to face preventable risks during childbirth,” Muganwa said.
He said preventable maternal deaths represent not only personal tragedies for affected families but also a loss of human capital and national productivity.
“We cannot talk meaningfully about inclusive growth while mothers continue to risk their lives simply by bringing forth the next generation. A healthy mother is the cornerstone of a productive workforce and a prosperous nation,” he added.
Muganwa said the initiative forms part of Stanbic Bank’s Positive Impact Agenda, which focuses on empowering women, youth and farmers through financial inclusion, enterprise development, climate resilience, infrastructure development and corporate social investment.
Partnership approach
Rotary District 9213 Governor Dr Gerald Obai described the partnership as an example of how collaboration between the private sector, government and civil society can address persistent public health challenges.
“This partnership shows what is possible when organisations come together around a shared purpose. Maternal mortality is not a challenge that government or Rotary can solve alone. It requires businesses, communities and development partners working together to save lives,” Dr Obai said.
Representing Rotary Mama Toto Care Uganda, Magezi Ndamira said the partnership builds on work that began in 2022 and is designed to support both mothers and frontline health workers.
“We stand with the mother who begins labour many kilometres from a health facility. We stand with the mother who arrives hoping there is equipment and skilled healthcare workers to help her deliver safely. We also stand with the midwife, the nurse and the doctor who want to save lives but need the right tools to do so,” Ndamira said.
He said every mother deserves dignity and every newborn deserves an opportunity to survive, regardless of their location or economic circumstances.
Strengthening existing facilities
Ndamira said Mama Toto Care works through existing public health facilities rather than establishing parallel systems.
The programme will focus on four key areas: training and re-skilling healthcare workers, providing essential maternal and newborn equipment, strengthening community awareness on antenatal care and safe delivery, and improving referral systems and quality of care.
“We strengthen government health facilities and equip healthcare workers who are already serving within the Ministry of Health. Our guiding principle is simple: where is the greatest need, and where can our intervention make the biggest difference?” he said.
Stanbic Bank Manager for Corporate Social Investment Diana Ondoga said the initiative contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.
She said although Uganda has made progress in reducing maternal mortality, further gains will require stronger collaboration among government, the private sector and development partners.
Dr Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, welcomed the partnership, saying maternal health requires a whole-of-society approach.
“Maternal health is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone. It requires government, the private sector, communities and development partners working together to remove barriers that prevent women from accessing quality care,” Olaro said.
The three-year partnership will support health facility upgrades, training of frontline health workers, an adopt-a-health-centre model and community mobilisation to promote safe motherhood practices.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Uganda’s existing health system while improving access to quality maternal and newborn care, particularly for women and families facing barriers to essential health services.
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