Uganda has admitted there is a very slow pace towards the reduction of maternal mortality rate.

In its Millennium Development Goal targets, the East African nation had targeted reduction of maternal mortality rate as one of its main goals, but the country now seems off track.

Opening the 18th Joint Review Mission for the Health Sector, Health Minister Christine Ondoa said despite registering some achievements, more still had to be done in attaining the MDG goal.

"Although infant mortality rates and the number of children who die below the age of five have dropped, the ministry still faces a task of curbing the number of mothers that die while giving birth," she said.

She called on technocrats, politicians among other stakeholders at the Joint Review Mission initiate strategies to reduce maternal mortality rates.

A health ministry of health official, Joel Nkugwa, said more than 15 women died every day while giving birth.

Women's organisations have on several occasions called upon government to adequately fund the health ministry with sufficient funds to reduce maternal mortality rate.



Meanwhile the Director General Health Services Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said despite inadequate funding the ministry registered slight improvements in the availability of medicines, health service coverage among others.