Govt Calls for Immediate Postpartum Family Planning

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Health is pushing health facilities to add family planning to routine maternity services so women can receive counselling and contraception before leaving hospital after delivery. The guidance is aimed at helping mothers safely space pregnancies and reduce the risks linked to closely timed births, according to the ministry as reported by Nile Post.

Director General of Health Services Dr Charles Olaro said postpartum family planning can help prevent unintended pregnancies and improve outcomes for mothers and newborns. He made the remarks at Kawempe National Referral Hospital during the handover of 12 delivery beds donated by Marie Stopes Uganda with support from DAK International Network. Olaro said maternity units are a key entry point because Uganda records an estimated 1.6 million to 1.7 million births each year.

The report says the call builds on a pilot postpartum family planning programme at Kawempe that has run since 2024. Marie Stopes Uganda’s Dr Ritah Tweheyo said the programme offers services within 48 hours of delivery and up to six weeks postpartum, while counselling starts during antenatal care. She said 5,837 women have accessed services through the initiative so far.

Officials at the event also said the approach is meant to reduce missed opportunities when women return later for baby immunisations and may already be pregnant again. Dr Richard Mugahi, the reproductive health commissioner, said stronger investment in health infrastructure and lower-level facilities would help ease pressure on referral hospitals and improve maternal care access.