Save the Mothers second year student, Dr. Tonny Kapsandui. (Photo by Fortunate Kagumaho)
“I have always been interested in making a difference in the lives of mothers and their children—in Uganda and beyond,” says Tonny Kapsandui, 38. A medical doctor, Tonny knows that more than 6,000 Ugandan mothers die from preventable pregnancy complications each year. “Uganda Christian University’s Save the Mothers Master’s of Public Health Leadership program provides me with the greatest opportunity to grow in this dream,” he adds.
Having completed his first year of the program, Tonny says he’s never regretted his decision to enroll. “I am in the right place.” Save the Mothers communications intern Fortunate Kagumaho spoke with Tonny to find out more.
FK: What do you hope to do with your STM training?
TK: I work as Director of Programs at Jhpiego Uganda country office. This is a senior position in an organization whose core business is to prevent the needless deaths of mothers and their newborns. My Save the Mothers training makes me a better leader and a motivated advocate in maternal and newborn health issues.
FK: How you hope to make a difference in your country and community?
TK: I believe we don’t need many resources to achieve the dream of maternal health. We need knowledge to empower vulnerable mothers. We need to go back to primary health care. I would like to speak for mothers and their newborns; to ensure that the mothers and their communities know the basics of good maternal health care and are able to prevent unnecessary deaths by making wise and well informed decisions. I am passionate about family planning, it is one major area through which we can make a great impact towards achieving maternal and newborn health.