As the world raises a clarion call for one million midwives to close the widening gap in maternal and newborn care, Uganda stands at a painful crossroads — a nation with qualified midwives, yet hospitals and health centers remain grossly understaffed. The irony is striking: while global reports decry a shortage, Ugandan midwives roam the streets jobless.
Every year, institutions across the country produce hundreds of midwives — skilled, compassionate, and ready to serve. Yet, government recruitment drives are sporadic, delayed, or underfunded. Many trained professionals end up in private clinics for meager pay or leave the profession altogether in search of survival. Meanwhile, women in rural areas continue to give birth on clinic floors, assisted by overworked or untrained attendants.
Health centers in some districts operate with one or two midwives serving entire sub-counties. The result is predictable: rising maternal mortality rates and preventable deaths. The Ministry of Health acknowledges the staffing gap but blames limited budgets and wage constraints for its inability to absorb qualified personnel.
Uganda’s case highlights a deeper crisis — a mismatch between training and absorption. The country invests heavily in producing health workers but fails to deploy them effectively. As the world seeks to add one million midwives, Uganda could easily contribute thousands — if only recruitment systems were functional and priorities well aligned.
The time has come for policymakers to act. Employing the available midwives would not only save lives but also empower families and strengthen communities. It is not a shortage of skills, but a shortage of political will that keeps our mothers dying needlessly.
In the spirit of the global call, Uganda must rise to its responsibility — not by training more, but by employing those who already stand ready to serve.
Dornam Ahumuza