Stanbic backs Independence Marathon to save mothers

What the report says

Stanbic Bank Uganda has announced support for the second edition of the Independence Marathon, an event aimed at raising awareness and funds for maternal health. According to The Observer, the race is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, and will run under the theme “Save a Mother.” Proceeds from the marathon are expected to help strengthen maternal health services at Mengo Hospital in Kampala.

The bank said the partnership is intended to show how sport can bring communities together around a public health cause. The event is expected to attract professional and amateur runners, corporate teams, families and other members of the public. Mandela National Stadium will host both the start and finish, while the Northern Bypass will be used for the timed route.

The Observer reported that the marathon is being tied to Uganda’s broader maternal health challenge. It cited the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, which put the country’s maternal mortality ratio at 207 deaths per 100,000 live births, down from 336 in 2016. At a visit to Mengo Hospital, Stanbic’s Diana Ondoga, hospital doctor Frank Kakuba and safe-motherhood advocate Daniel Lubwama Kigozi, also known as Navio, encouraged voluntary blood donation as one practical way to help women facing childbirth complications.