Afrigather At present, Uganda joins the remainder of the world in commemorating World Well being Day with the theme “My well being, my proper”. This theme highlights that the enjoyment of the very best attainable commonplace of well being is a basic proper of each human being regardless of race, faith, political perception, financial or social situation. The appropriate to well being for all individuals implies that everybody ought to have entry to the well being companies they want, when and the place they want them, with out struggling monetary hardship. This yr’s theme is well timed, as we’re six years to reviewing our progress in the direction of reaching common well being protection.
In collaboration with key companions and regardless of the threats posed by public well being and humanitarian emergencies and the financial circumstances, our efforts over the previous decade have contributed to serving to Uganda strengthen its well being system and assure its inhabitants’s entry to built-in and people-centered important well being companies.
Uganda’s historical past in well being is rooted within the combat towards epidemics, the containment of outbreaks, and the implementation of evidence-based interventions to enhance the well being and well-being of the inhabitants. Because of the management of the Authorities of Uganda and the joint efforts of improvement and implementing companions, the well being sector indicators have progressively improved.
Uganda has recorded a discount in maternal and toddler mortality. Particularly, between 2016 and 2022, maternal mortality declined from 336 to 189 deaths per 100,000 stay births, under-five mortality dropped from 64 to 52 per 1,000 stay births, toddler mortality decreased from 43 to 36 per 1,000 stay births, and neonatal mortality dropped from 27 to 22 per 1,000 stay births. We’ll proceed to step up our efforts on this space to make sure that all new child infants and moms take pleasure in their proper to life, together with on the grassroots stage.
Moreover, new HIV infections fell by 40% between 2010 and 2022, and the aim of lowering the burden of non-communicable illnesses is being accelerated by the just lately adopted Compact on Non-Communicable Illnesses. This Compact goals to save lots of lives, stop illness, and cut back the results of local weather change whereas advancing well being fairness.
As well as, WHO and companions supported the nation in preventing the COVID-19 pandemic and interrupting the transmission of the Ebola virus illness in a document time of 69 days. We might solely obtain these outstanding outcomes due to the sturdy management inside the well being sector, a complete authorities and group method, and the dedication of the frontline well being employees who supported the response efforts at numerous ranges. We’ll proceed to companion with the Authorities of Uganda in elevating consciousness of illnesses with epidemic potential and to make sure a sturdy surveillance system for early case detection and administration.
Whereas the above progress is commendable, additional efforts are wanted to make sure that each individual in Uganda has entry to built-in and people-centred well being companies. Implementing the prevailing public well being insurance policies, methods, and tips, bettering effectivity in the usage of sources, and selling group empowerment and participation will speed up Uganda’s progress in the direction of reaching common well being protection.
By Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, WHO Consultant to Uganda
