Landmark maternal mortality case adjourns in Uganda

Kampala (AFP) - A court case spotlighting Uganda's high mortality crisis -- with an estimated 16 women dying in childbirth daily -- adjourned Thursday, prompting disappointment from human rights activists.

The case was brought by relatives of two women who died during childbirth and a local NGO. They sued the government in 2011 in hopes that Uganda's constitutional court would declare that preventable death of women during childbirth violates the constitution.

Their petition to the court also seeks to compel the government to provide essential equipment in hospitals for safe deliveries.

The case was dismissed in 2012, but the plaintiffs are currently appealing at the Supreme Court.

"The judiciary should use its power to take action to correct this crisis and compel the government to stop maternal mortality through life saving service delivery," said Asia Russell, Director of International Policy at Health GAP and one of many activists in court on Thursday.

Maternal mortality, she said, was "a public health emergency and a disgrace" for the impoverished east African nation, where an estimated 16 women die through childbirth-related complications every day.

After a brief hearing on Thursday, the matter was adjourned to a later date for judgement.

Russell said it was "extremely disappointing" that "after so much time to study such an important case, the Supreme Court Justices had not even one question for the attorneys in this matter."