The Ministry of Health has launched a community follow-up programme deploying community health workers to trace babies born prematurely after hospital discharge.
Speaking at the launch of a week of awareness events on prematurity on Monday, Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, said Uganda records over 220,000 premature births each year.
While many premature babies now survive at birth, a significant number develop complications after leaving the hospital. She explained that some develop neurological challenges and others blindness—conditions that can be reversed if detected and treated early.
Under the programme, Deogratius Migadde, Senior Medical Officer in the Reproductive and Child Health Department, said health workers will make home visits on designated days to ensure parents adhere to discharge practices and to monitor babies for danger signs. He added that premature babies are prone to infections, and mothers must continue precautions, provide exclusive breastfeeding, and practice Kangaroo Mother Care.
In addition to home visits, Dr. Atwine said neonatal care services will be extended to lower-level health facilities through the provision of incubators for Health Centre IVs, reducing the need for parents to travel long distances and stay away from home for extended periods.
While the government programme is newly launched, Bazilio Kateregga, a father of a premature child, told URN that parents have already initiated peer follow-up programmes. These groups allow parents to learn from one another and provide mutual support. So far, they have followed up 3,000 babies, with plans to increase the number to 50,000.
Dr. Sam Ononge, Director of Mulago Women and Neonatal Hospital, emphasized that strict follow-up is critical for premature babies to quickly detect any complications. He noted that the hospital, which houses the country’s largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), aims to follow pre-term babies up to 12 years and is advocating for the establishment of a pediatrics unit.
He added that further research is needed to understand prematurity fully, including whether premature babies are more likely to have pre-term children in the future. Currently, neonatal mortality in Uganda stands at 27 deaths per 1,000 live births.
