Dr Diana Atwiine outlines 26 Achievements of President Museveni in the Health Sector

Dr Diana Atwiine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, has outlined some of the achievements of President Museveni in the health sector.

The NRM Government policy on health is to ensure that all Ugandans have access to high quality and affordable health care so as to contribute to social and economic development and hence the Mission of the Ministry of Health is to provide the highest level of health services to all people in Uganda through delivery of promotive, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative health services at all levels-Dr Diana Atwine the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry said. She further stated that the vision of the Ministry of Health is to facilitate the attainment of a good standard of health by all people of Uganda.

In order to promote a healthy and productive life The sector intends to achieve the above by putting emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention and increasing access to health facilities and this is what we have been committed to-Dr Diana told Public Opinions.

Through our field based research, we have compiled 26 Achievements of H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the Health Sector. They are not limited to;

1.   President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni supported the establishment of Medical Research Council and Uganda Virus Institute (UVRIS) in 1988 to improve the understanding and control of the HIV epidemic in Uganda and globally. In 2017 after wider consultation, UVRI/MRC broadened its work beyond HIV to include other infections, neglected, endemic, emerging and re-emerging infections and expanded its work in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). On 1st February, 2018, the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit formally joined the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and became The MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit which is boosting research capacity into some of the current and emerging health issues in Africa and the world. The MRC/UVRI is the lead health institution in Uganda fight COVID-19. Thanks to President Museveni.

2.   President Museveni has promoted Access to health care which has now increased with 86% of the population within 5km of reach of either public or private health facilities, from 75% by 2010. Health facilities (both Government and private) have increased as follows: 181 hospitals in 2019 from 156 in 2015, At least 222 Health Centres IVs in 2019 from 193 in 2015. There are 1,510 Health Centre IIIs in 2019 from 1,383 in 2015, There are 3,364 Health Centre II in 2019 from 2,790, There are 1,578 private clinics of which 90% are in Metropolitan Kampala and Ministry of Health focus now is on improving the functionality and quality of services in these health facilities.

3.   President Museveni has promoted Enhancement of education and empowerment of families and households to achieve balanced diets. The Nutrition Program has been scaled up with the aim of preventing severe macro and micro nutrition. The Ministry of Health has developed guidelines on healthy eating and lifestyle and these were launched on 12th July 2019 at the National Day of Exercise. The Ministry of Health advocated for creation of breastfeeding corners at all workplaces (including Parliament) and there is need to follow up on the practice so that breast feeding mothers can continue feeding for at least 2 years.

4.   The NRM Government under the Leadership of President Museveni has scaled up the Results Based Financing program with focus on Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health Services in all districts through the URMCHIP; and Enhancing Health in Acholi Sub-Region Projects. This is geared at improving efficiency, equity and quality of health services.

5.   The NRM Government under the Leadership of Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni built a Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital in Mulago. The 450 Bed Specialized Women & Neonatal hospital at Mulago launched in October 2018 by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni The President of Uganda is now fully functional. The services to be offered by the  Hospital include: Reproductive medicine [Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery, Maternal Fetal Medicine (high risk pregnancies, Women with organ transplant, Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, In-vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies, Urogynaecology (Ureteric re-implantations, Complex Fistula surgeries and Vaginal hysterectomies, Reconstructive surgery following FGM and advanced reconstructive Gyn surgery), Gynaecological-oncology services (Cervical, vaginal, endometrial, ovarian and vulval cancer surgeries) as well Advanced Neonatal medical and surgical services.

6.   The Government of Uganda through Ministry of Health finalized the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy, which is ready for submission to Cabinet. Together with Partners and NoN-Governmental Organizations, the Ministry, continue to sensitize families on planning for the families using the Family Planning Communication Strategy. According to the UDHS 2016, Contraceptive Prevalence Rate increased from 24% to 39% for modern methods. However the Government target is 50% by 2020.Male involvement in sexual and reproductive health is very low and the Ministry of Health plan to disseminate and operationalize the Male Involvement Strategy.

7.   President Museveni has promoted campaign to ensure that 100% of the children are immunized against all the 13 preventable diseases. Routine immunization services are provided at all health facilities and outreaches conducted in all districts with support from GAVI. President Museveni directed Ministry of Health to procure and install a total of 1,514 Immunization Program solar fridges over the last one year to ensure a quality cold chain and safe vaccines for the EPI program. Thank you president Museveni. Except for Human Papilloma Virus vaccine which had global inadequacies, adequate quantities of all co-financed vaccines (DPT-HepB-Hib, PCV & Rotavirus) were procured and distributed by the Ministry of Health.
 

8.   The NRM Government increased funding for procurement of traditional vaccines. Previously, the Government of Uganda was providing UGX 9 billion for procurement of traditional vaccines; this was increased to UGX 11 billion in 2018/19 and further to UGX 21 billion in FY 2019/20. In addition, Government of Uganda co-finances the new vaccines supported by GAVI.

9.   To ensure Healthy of the Children of Uganda, President Museveni supported mass Measles-Rubella campaign vaccination. In October 2019, Ministry of Health successfully conducted a mass Measles-Rubella campaign targeting 18,100,000 children under 15 years. A total of 19,241,348 were vaccinated giving 106% coverage. During the Measles-Rubella campaign, Oral Polio Vaccination was undertaken targeting 8,200,000 children under 5 years. A total of 7,905,924 were vaccinated giving 96% coverage.

10.        The Government of Uganda with funding from partners in USA Built a Modern Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Mulago and The East Africa Community approved UCI as Centre of Excellence for training, research and treatment of cancer in East Africa and expansion of the infrastructure is ongoing. 183 students have been funded to pursue different courses in cancer related disciplines including 14 specialist oncology fellowships and 10 PhDs. A Linac machine was procured and will soon be installed. A new Cobalt-60 Radiotherapy Machine was commissioned and construction of 6 more radiotherapy bunkers to improve the radiotherapy services is ongoing. The UCI is in the process of establishing Regional Cancer Centres in Gulu and Mbarara to increase access to care.

11.        President Museveni has promoted and supported Comprehensive HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Allover Uganda. ART coverage among HIV infected adults and children has increased over the years to 86% (1,198,445 / 1,393,445) in 2018/19.This progressive trend implies that the country is on track to achieve the second of the triple 90-90-90 by 2020 targets in the Fast Track Strategy for ending AIDS by 2030. In FY 2018/19, 91% (29,475/32,485) HIV+ pregnant women not on HAART receiving ARVs for elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV. Transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their new born babies fell to less than 3,000 babies during the year.

12.        The Government of Uganda under the wise Leadership of President Museveni has eliminated leprosy as a public health threat in 2014 and has sustained national elimination status for 5 years. However, there are still about 10 high burden districts (Amolator, Arua, Kumi, Moyo, Koboko, Mayuge, Yumbe, Kasese, Lira and Nebbi) that accounted for 90% of notified cases and President Museveni has directed better interventions in the districts. The number of leprosy cases has reduced to about 200 every year.A 5 year National Strategic Plan Development 2020/21-2025/26 and Policy Guideline for ending TB Leprosy by 2030 have