NDA Donates Mama Kit Boxes to Alur Kingdom to Strengthen Health Interventions

By Mike Rwothomio

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has donated 140 customized mama kits to the Alur Kingdom in a bid to support cost-effective interventions aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.

The Mama Kit contains one 500g pack of cotton, 10 surgical gloves (size 7.5), one baby soft sheet, one pack of 10 maternity pads, one pack of 10 wipes, one 250ml bottle of Jik, two baby pampers, one 2-metre delivery sheet, one cord clamp, two surgical blades (24G), one gauze stick (90×50), one immunisation card, one tube of tetracycline eye ointment, one bar of baby soap, and one name tag.

The donation complements Uganda’s Ministry of Health efforts to promote clean and safe deliveries through the Maama Kit initiative.

NDA Public Relations Officer Fred Kabuye handed over the kits to Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala on Monday, June 22, at the Prime Minister’s offices in Yamu Trading Centre, Atyak Sub-county, Zombo District.

The mama kits are designed to address financial and hygienic barriers faced by vulnerable expectant mothers during delivery.

After the handover, Kabuye urged the Kingdom leadership to ensure effective distribution of the kits to expectant mothers.

Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, speaking on behalf of the Alur King, welcomed the donation and commended the NDA management for its support to the Kingdom’s subjects.

“We received mama kits to support expectant mothers across the Alur Kingdom. This timely contribution will strengthen our efforts to complement government initiatives aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality,” he said.

Opar announced that the kits will be distributed to health facilities across the Kingdom through the Alur Kingdom’s Ministry of Health, led by Dr. Amos Nyathirombo, to ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries.

He emphasized the need for effective utilization of the kits for their intended purpose.“As the Kingdom, we commend NDA for this great support. Through our Health Ministry, we shall liaise with in-charges of health facilities across the Kingdom to help expectant mothers,” he added.

The Kingdom also appreciated the NDA for sending its Public Relations Officer Fred Kabuye, accompanied by the Regional Inspector of Drugs for the West Nile Region, whose participation demonstrated solidarity with the Alur people.

Medical workers note that mothers without access to mama kits , essential delivery packs containing sterile gloves, cotton wool, razor blades, and plastic sheeting often face significant challenges.

Due to stockouts at government health centres, many are forced to purchase kits privately at approximately UGX 30,000 to 45,000 or deliver in unhygienic conditions using improvised materials such as torn clothes.

Prime Minister (Jadipu) Opar urged health facility in-charges to ensure the kits serve their intended purposes and reach the rightful beneficiaries.

The donation forms part of ongoing collaboration between the NDA and the Alur Kingdom. Earlier this year, the two parties entered a partnership to combat drug and alcohol abuse, particularly among unemployed and redundant youths.

As part of this strategy, the NDA will sponsor annual football tournaments organized by Ker Alur to sensitize young people against substance abuse.

Although mama kits are officially provided free of charge at government facilities through the National Medical Stores, reports of shortages, and high patient volumes in facilities across Zombo District continue to compel many mothers to buy basic delivery supplies out-of-pocket.

The Maama Kit initiative was introduced in Uganda in 1997 with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) as a cost-effective intervention to reduce infections associated with childbirth. It was officially launched in Luwero District in 2003. The kit balances ideal requirements for clean, safe delivery with practical realities in rural, low-resource settings.

According to WHO, When well planned and executed, it improves the quality and utilization of reproductive health services and helps strengthen relationships between health workers and expectant mothers.

PRO NDA Fred Kabuye ( left) hands over the kits To Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala on Monday June 22.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates