Uganda is the biggest refugee-hosting nation in Africa and the fifth largest on this planet. Over the a long time, Uganda has hosted refugees from international locations together with South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Burundi, and Rwanda. As of thirty first August 2024, there have been 1,7400 000 refugees in Uganda primarily located inside refugee settlements in northern and southwestern Uganda and Kampala Metropolis.
Kampala, Geneva, Brazzaville – A brand new report on “Refugee and Migrant Well being System Evaluate: Challenges and Alternatives for Lengthy-term Well being System Strengthening in Uganda” requires a holistic strategy to fortifying Uganda’s well being system. The report underscores the significance of enhancing well being employee capacities, enhancing entry to important medical sources, and fostering stronger stakeholders’ coordination. Collectively, these efforts goal to create a extra resilient and inclusive well being system that serves refugees, migrants, and host communities, whereas laying the inspiration for long-term sustainability.
The report is a results of collaborative efforts between Uganda’s Ministry of Well being (MoH) and World Well being Group (WHO), in partnership with the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM).
The report launch was officiated by the Ugandan Minister of Well being, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng along with the WHO Director of Well being and Migration, Dr. Santino Severoni, the IOM Chief of Mission, Mr. Sanusi Tejan Savage, and the UNHCR Assistant Consultant in Uganda, Mr Benson Ochiel Ngiela.
The hybrid occasion which happened in Kampala and on-line introduced collectively key gamers from the Ugandan authorities, United Nations Businesses, donors, and different companions to debate the report’s findings. The occasion additionally highlighted the collaborative efforts of UN companies to enhance the supply of well being providers for refugees, migrants, and host communities in Uganda, to catalyze additional motion and useful resource mobilization.
Whereas internet hosting the launch occasion, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng defined that “to make sure that Uganda has a powerful well being system capable of meet the wants of its complete inhabitants, it’s essential to additional enhance current insurance policies and techniques that grant migrants equitable entry to well being providers”.
In March 2024, WHO, along with MoH, and UNHCR carried out a joint evaluation mission to offer a complete overview of the well being system’s response to refugees. The goal was to know service supply challenges and determine alternatives to additional assist Uganda in strengthening its well being system capability and guaranteeing continued entry to well being providers for refugees, migrants, and host communities.
Key findings from the report point out that Uganda’s authorities helps refugees by insurance policies selling freedom of motion, integration, and entry to social providers, employment, and land. Refugees and asylum seekers additionally obtain a complete well being package deal together with emergency care, psychological first support and steady entry to main well being care providers as soon as settled.
Though the report counseled the combination of individuals pressured to flee into nationwide providers, key challenges recognized embody recurrent inventory out of important medicines and provides, cultural and language boundaries amongst refugees and the healthcare workforce, and restricted sources to recruit and handle the wanted well being workforce in well being services.
The report highlights key steps to enhance Uganda’s healthcare system by integrating refugees and addressing the precise wants of each migrants and host communities. WHO’s Director of Well being and Migration, Dr. Santino Severoni, acknowledged, “Uganda’s management in integrating refugees and migrants into the well being system is a mannequin of solidarity in motion, guaranteeing entry to important well being providers for all.”
For the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Moeti Matshidiso, “Nations ought to use the potential of migrants and refugees to contribute to the duty pressure of service supply, utilizing their competencies and expertise.”
Additional concerns from the report embody Figuring out and implementing new funding methods and making a complete medical health insurance system; Incorporating conventional healers into well being methods and strengthening intersectoral collaboration with different ministries to handle broader well being determinants, amongst others.
Efforts to strengthen the well being system and act on the mapped motion objects are already underway. In March 2024, UNHCR and WHO signed a Letter of Understanding to reinforce their collaboration in supporting Uganda’s authorities to enhance well being providers to migrants, refugees, and host communities within the nation.
“This partnership goals to strengthen the rights and well being of individuals pressured to flee whereas supporting Uganda’s efforts to attain the 2030 Sustainable Improvement Objectives,” defined Mr Benson Ochiel Ngiela, the UNHCR Assistant Consultant in Uganda.
Uganda’s dedication to internet hosting thousands and thousands fleeing battle and hardship, and its efforts in integrating and defending refugees and migrants are exceptional. Uganda’s open-door coverage and Complete Refugee Response Framework are exemplary fashions for offering security, dignity, and hope.