UNFPA Uganda and Partners Empower Health Workers to Combat Maternal Mortality in Refugee Settlements

Kampala, Uganda: In a significant step toward improving maternal health in Uganda’s refugee communities, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Uganda, in collaboration with Acord Uganda, has launched an impactful mentorship program targeting postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Held recently in Nakivale Refugee Settlement and Kisoro, the initiative trained 50 frontline health workers using the innovative EMOTIVE approach, offering hope to vulnerable populations amidst ongoing humanitarian challenges.

Postpartum hemorrhage, which accounts for approximately 27% of the 303,000 annual maternal deaths globally according to the World Health Organization (WHO), poses a particularly acute threat in resource-limited settings like Nakivale, a sprawling 180-square-kilometer settlement located 200 kilometers southwest of Kampala. Home to tens of thousands of refugees, many fleeing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nakivale has seen its health infrastructure strained by a recent escalation of violence. The conflict, which intensified in January 2025, has displaced thousands and disrupted essential services, as reported by UNFPA DRC.

Against this backdrop, the EMOTIVE mentorship program—supported by UNFPA’s Emergency Fund/DRC scale-up project—aims to equip health workers with the skills to detect and manage PPH effectively. The training, conducted under shaded structures with colorful banners detailing health protocols, featured interactive sessions where participants learned to use a calibrated blood collection drape for early detection, a cornerstone of the EMOTIVE care bundle.

The EMOTIVE method, detailed in a 2021 study published in Reproductive Health, is designed to enhance the first-response management of PPH through a structured care bundle. This includes early bleeding detection, rapid intervention, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines—practices that remain challenging in many low-resource settings. By engaging health professionals directly, the program addresses barriers such as limited training and resource availability, tailoring strategies to the local context.

“This training is a game-changer for our community,” said a health worker from Nakivale, who participated in the sessions. “With these skills, we can save more mothers and babies, even under difficult conditions.”

The initiative builds on Nakivale’s existing health services, which include outpatient care, immunization, and antenatal care mobilization, supported by organizations like the Finnish Refugee Council. With an estimated population of over 35,000 refugees and surrounding nationals benefiting from these programs, the settlement has seen improvements in maternal and child health indicators, though challenges like malaria and respiratory infections persist.

The timing of this mentorship is critical, given the ongoing crisis in eastern DRC, where violence has forced many to seek refuge in Uganda. UNFPA’s scale-up efforts reflect a broader commitment to delivering lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency obstetric care, to displaced populations.