The Community Agenda

By Umar Weswala Mr. Dan Alemu from UNFPA  The United Nations Population Fund Country Representative Dr. Mary Otieno has urged the government of Uganda to fully fund the National Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan in order to achieve the strategic goal of eliminating fistula. This was contained in a speech read for her by the UNFPA Deputy Country Representative Mr. Daniel Alemu during the national commemoration  of this year’s Fistula day yesterday in Hoima City. The National Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan 2020/2021 - 2024/2025 was launched during last year’s commemoration of the Fistula Day in Zombo District by the State Minister for Health in Charge of General Duties Hon. Anifa Kawooya. In her remarks, Dr. Mary Otieno stated that much as significant progress has been made by government and partners, more needs to be done to eliminate Fistula by 2030. According to the UDHS 2016, at least 1 in every 100 women has obstetric fistula in Uganda. Women who suffer complic...

  By Umar Weswala: Country Rep. Mary Otieno signed on behalf of UNFPA The government of Uganda has signed a Compact with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under the UNFPA Supplies Partnership , aimed at increasing the supply of modern contraceptives and lifesaving maternal health medicines in the country. This is in addition to the past and recent pledges and commitments made by the government both at local and international fora. The compact was signed on 10 th May 2023 at Sheraton Hotel Kampala by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Hon. Matia Kasaija and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwine on behalf of the government of Uganda, and the Country Representative Dr. Mary Otieno on behalf of UNFPA. Minister Kasaija signed on behalf of the gov't of Uganda At the signing ceremony, the Minister Kasaija said that, the compact agreement is an emphasis of Uganda’s commitments to invest in overall health and wellbeing of the Uga...

By Umar Weswala: A procession of Midwives around Soroti City The government of Uganda together with the Swedish government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have made further commitments towards improving the state of Midwifery in Uganda. The commitments were made on 5 th May 2023 during the national commemoration of this year’s International Day of the Midwife at Soroti sports ground in Soroti City. The event brought together midwives and other stakeholders from all over Uganda under the theme: Together again: from evidence to reality. Speaking on behalf government, the State Minister of Health in charge of general duties Hon. Anifa Kawooya lauded midwives for saving the lives of mothers and new-born babies even under difficult circumstances. Minister Kawooya was standing in for the Vice President Jessica Alupo. She said that investing in and empowering midwives is key to the government of Uganda’s efforts towards meeting the national and global targets of uni...

By Umar Weswala:   Baby Elijah with mum (R). on the extreme left in the UNFPA  Deputy Country Representative in Uganda Mr. Dan Alemu While we can't know for sure who was the eight billionth person and where he/she was born, there is a high possibility that the baby was born in one of the countries with a high fertility rate. The symbolic selection for Uganda is that of Elijah, a baby born on 15th November 2022 in the China Uganda Friendship Hospital in Kampala. Baby Alijah was welcomed by officials from UNFPA, the Ministry of Health, the National Population Council and members of Parliament among others during the commemoration of the Day of 8 billion held on the day he was born and at the facility where he was born. The story behind Elijah’s birth today is for sure a story of triumph despite challenges that come with a growing population. It is a reminder to Ugandans that we are part of the global population and whatever we do or fail to do will have impact at a global level...

By Namale Hajara Shahista File Photo The Ministry of Education and Sports canceled all school visitation days and leavers parties last month on 28th October 2022 as students sit their PLE and UACE Uganda national end-of -year exams until the end of the current school term. “As you are aware, the country is experiencing an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease. Given that some positive cases have now been confirmed among learners from families of known contacts, it is necessary to strengthen the existing infection prevention measures at school level,” said Education official Ismael Mulindwa in a circular to all schools, from the office of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary. This circular means even planned Nursery School Graduation Ceremonies and PTA General Meetings planned by parents, teachers and pupils in schools will not take place this year. In this regard some parents we managed to talk to have not welcomed the move by the ministry saying there was no need for suspending childr...

By Namale Hajara The government of Uganda has extended the lockdown in the Districts of Kassanda and Mubende by 21 days to continue the fight against the spread of Ebola. In a national address she delivered on the pandemic on behalf of the President, Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, explained that the move was intended to further minimize the spread of this disease within these two most affected Districts. This, she argued would protect the rest of the country from further exposure. But Dr. Aceng has reassured the nation that the government is doing everything to end the pandemic. Since the health ministry first declared an Ebola outbreak in the central district of Mubende, the disease has since found its way into Kampala and is threatening other districts if not contained. ‘I want to reassure the country that the government is doing all that is possible to control the outbreak therefore. There is no need for anxiety and panic” she said adding that, “the health workers too ...