• EDITORIAL POLICY
  • ABOUT US
PML Daily
  • Home
  • NEWS
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Regional
    • Africa
    • World
  • INVESTIGATIONS
    • National Archives
    • Special Reports
  • OpEd
  • BUSINESS
    • Agriculture
    • Tech
    • Finance
  • FEATURES
    • Health
    • Tours & Travel
    • Entertainment
    • Society
  • COLUMNISTS
    • The Suited Penguin
  • SPORT
  • Jobs
  • Magazines
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NEWS
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Regional
    • Africa
    • World
  • INVESTIGATIONS
    • National Archives
    • Special Reports
  • OpEd
  • BUSINESS
    • Agriculture
    • Tech
    • Finance
  • FEATURES
    • Health
    • Tours & Travel
    • Entertainment
    • Society
  • COLUMNISTS
    • The Suited Penguin
  • SPORT
  • Jobs
  • Magazines
No Result
View All Result
PML Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home INVESTIGATIONS Special Reports

RE-BORN! Review of how Uganda’s health sector was revived (Part I)

Liberation Day Special Report - Part I

JAVIRA SSEBWAMI | PML Daily Staff Writer by JAVIRA SSEBWAMI | PML Daily Staff Writer
January 25, 2020
in Special Reports
0 0
129
SHARES
805
VIEWS
FacebookWhatsAppTwitter
Dr. Diana Atwine the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health takes blood samples from President Museveni who publicly tested for HIV in 2013. The President has led from the front as the country revived the health sector that is key to service delivery. (PHOTO/File)

In this first part of our two-part series, PML Daily’s Javira Ssebwami looks at the achievements in Uganda’s Health Sector since 1986, taking us through the methodical background that had prepared its current wins.

=================================

KAMPALA –The National Resistance Army (NRA) captured power after five years of protracted fighting on January 26, 1986, dealt a final blow to the Uganda People’s Congres and Dr. Apollo Milton Obote’s second government.

Today marks 34 years since the nascent NRA army under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, comprising of mostly young men and women in their twenties and early thirties captured Kampala in a victory that their leader and incumbent President Yoweri Museveni described as a ‘fundamental change’.

Challenges in the health services notwithstanding, the ruling NRM government over the past 34 years has achieved monumental landmarks in the health sector key among others reducing infant mortality to below 60 per cent, triggering universal immunization culminating in the eradication of polio and measles, putting close to 1 million Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS on ARVs, rehabilitating, re-equipping and building of new health centres up to sub-county level (80 per cent) and policy and regulatory framework that has encouraged the private sector participation in the provision of health services.

When the NRM-government took over power in 1986, health was one of the most emphasized sectors, knowing that a healthy population contributes to the growth of the economy. It is among the six priority sectors of the government.

From the outset, there have been massive investments in the health sector.

The government has also implemented two game-changer interventions in the health sector that has so far put Uganda far-flung ahead of her peers (PHOTO/File)

By 1986, health sector systems and facilities had broken down, there were no drugs in health facilities, the health workers were few, there was no hierarchy in health facilities as it is now; from health centre II up to the national referral hospitals.

There were only general hospitals and Mulago, and there was no nomenclature attached to them. There were a lot of preventable diseases; especially immunisable diseases.

President Museveni immediately re-launched the immunisation program in 1987 that only covered 34% at the time.

The NRM government also took over at the time when a high burden of Malaria, and HIV had just come in was rapidly rising with a prevalence of over 18%.

Looking at the 34 years of NRM government, the health sector has registered tremendous achievements confirmed by the increase in the life expectancy of Ugandans from 45 to 63 years.

This according to officials translate into more productivity and thus increased contribution to economic growth.

Also, Museveni, the administration found the infant mortality rate at 150 deaths per 1,000 live births. Today, it has dropped to about 43 deaths per 1,000 live births. For children under five years of age, the mortality rate was equally high; at over 90 deaths per 1,000 children, but it has dropped to less than 54. Although, this is still high compared to other countries in the region.

Since 1986, the NRM government has had good plans for the health sector which are yielding results, including improved health infrastructure, human resources and availability of drugs (PHOTO/File)

The maternal mortality rate was at 505 deaths per 1,000 live birth, but it has dropped to 336 per 1,000 live birth. This means that the country loses nine women every day due to labour and pregnancy-related issues; although, some statics show the number stands at 16 women per day.

The immunization coverage has increased from 34% to 95%, and the immunisable diseases have been increased from 6 to 13.

The increase in immunization coverage is the result of the decrease in the under 5 mortality rate.

These impressive statistics under his administration were reached at, as a result of systematic planning throughout the Health Sector Development plans since 1986.

The first Health Sector Strategic Plan addressed the burden of the disease that was very high. In countering this burden, there was a need to revitalise immunization, set up units to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The sector also massively addressed environmental hygiene and sanitation-program units were set up and National Medical Stores (NMS) was created too.

This Health Sector Strategic Plan One (HSSPI) paved away for HSSPII, whose main goal was to address access to health services by the population.

An interior section of New Mulago Women Hospital. The construction, expansion and rehabilitation of Mulago National Referral Hospital to turn it into a super specialised facility is in its final stages (PHOTO/File)

The government envisaged that if a population is within a 5km reach of a health facility, then they could easily get treatment. This resulted in the creation of Health Centre Twos, Threes, and Fours. To date, over 75% of the population is within a 5km reach to a health facility, and the remaining 25% are in a 2km reach.

This proceeded by the HSSPIII, which addressed community participation in their own health. This brought on board the Village Health Teams (VHTs). These were trained with the sole purpose of getting the communities to participate in their own health, but also emphasizing disease prevention and health education.

From the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP), the Health Sector Development Plans (HSDP) were adopted. HSDPs are a consolidation of all HSSPs.

Over the 34 years of NRM government, the following achievements have been consolidated.

==================================

Part II runs tommorrow, Sunday January 26, 2020

Comments

Tags: ACHIEVEMENTSHealth Centre TwosHealth secctorHIV testingLiberation Day Special Report - Part IMuseveniNRM@34Threestop

Related Posts

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo held in east China's Shanghai on Nov. 4, 2020. (PHOTO/Xinhua).
World

Xi’s Davos speech pivotal to multilateral cooperation

January 28, 2021
11
MP Muhammad Nsereko and his rival Fred Nyanzi respectively (PHOTO/File).
NEWS

Court blocks Kampala Central vote recount application

January 28, 2021
68
BUSINESS

The role of technology in unlocking trade value in East Africa

January 28, 2021
44
Rozy with Amb. Abbey Walusimbi (PHOTO/Courtesy).
NEWS

Akon’s wife Rozina Negusei in Uganda

January 28, 2021
247
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe (PHOTO/Courtesy).
Education

Makerere to open for finalists on February 6

January 28, 2021
169
Human Rights lawyer Nicholas Opio released on bail (PHOTO/File).
NEWS

TrialWatch to monitor trial of Human Rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo

January 28, 2021
169

Advertisement






 

 

About

The PML Daily, published via www.pmldaily.com is a publication of Post Media Ltd, a professional Digital/New Media company in Uganda.

Follow us

KIU

  • EDITORIAL POLICY
  • ABOUT US

© 2020 PMLDAILY.COM

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NEWS
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Regional
    • Africa
    • World
  • INVESTIGATIONS
    • National Archives
    • Special Reports
  • OpEd
  • BUSINESS
    • Agriculture
    • Tech
    • Finance
  • FEATURES
    • Health
    • Tours & Travel
    • Entertainment
    • Society
  • COLUMNISTS
    • The Suited Penguin
  • SPORT
  • Jobs
  • Magazines

© 2020 PMLDAILY.COM

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In