The National Medical Stores (NMS) has reassured Ugandans that Mama Kits – the childbirth packs distributed to government health facilities – are free, following complaints that some mothers are still being asked to pay for the supplies.
“Mama Kits are procured with public funds and delivered to every district free of charge. They are not for sale,” said NMS spokesperson Sheila Nduhukire.
“Any mother who is charged should report to health authorities or local leaders so that action is taken.”
Each Mama Kit contains gloves, cotton wool, gauze, soap, umbilical tape, a razor blade and a plastic sheet – items that make childbirth safe and hygienic. Health experts credit the programme with helping reduce maternal deaths from 438 per 100,000 live births in 2011 to 189 today. Facility deliveries have also more than doubled to 74 percent.
Despite this progress, some mothers say they have been asked to buy gloves or soap. “They told me there was a shortage, but later I heard Mama Kits were being sold in town,” said Justine Nankya, who delivered her child in Mukono District.
Health analysts say such incidents are often due to weak supervision at health facility level. NMS says once kits are delivered, responsibility lies with facility managers, local councils, and district health officers to ensure mothers receive them without cost.
Community leaders are being urged to step up monitoring, while health centres have been asked to display patient-rights information so mothers know what to expect. NMS has also encouraged the public to make use of toll-free lines and report any malpractice.
For expectant mothers, the Mama Kit represents more than a package — it is a guarantee of safety and dignity during childbirth. NMS says it will continue supplying them reliably and calls on every Ugandan to help ensure they are used as intended: freely and fairly.
