COVID-19 in Uganda

The importation and transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), in Uganda, has led to challenges related to maternal health services (MHSs). First, restrictions occasioned by COVID-19 were hurried. Some were initially inattentive to the special needs of women whose access to MHSs is critical to their health and that of their babies. Second, the strain put on the country’s weak health services infrastructure and systems implies limited resources left to attend to pregnant women and others in need of reproductive health services like contraception and family planning. Third, COVID-19 has forced government to enforce social measures to slow down or stop its spread, by declaring curfews and lock-downs upon people and transport systems, rendering it impossible to access MHSs in formal institutions. This has been done without availing awareness and advice on alternatives to formal services. While at the time of writing Uganda has not registered large numbers of infections – only 54 confirmed COVID-19 cases - and zero deaths - these after-effects have serious implications for thinking about the possible balance between COVID-19 response efforts and the need for maternal health services in Uganda.