PCC Contact:
 | Dr. Betty Kyadondo PCC and Head of Family Health Department Population Secretariat (POPSEC) Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development Statistics House 2nd & 3rd Floor, Plot 9 Colville Road Kampala, Uganda Tel: (256 41) 705 400-1 Fax: (256 41) 343 116 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |  |
EARHN and Uganda’s Review September 2007 to September 2008
The health situation in the Eastern Africa region is of concern. The population is growing at an average rate of 2.8 per cent per year and is likely to double within 20 - 25 years. The bigger majority of the population is rural, while 32 per cent is aged 10-24. Life expectancy is at less than 50 years. With 85 per cent of the population living below the poverty line, the countries in the region rank among the poorest countries in the world.
The maternal mortality ratio ranges from 400 – 600 deaths per 100,000 live births in Burundi. The infant mortality rate is 90 deaths per 1,000 live births; and access to health services poor with more than two thirds of the population, especially the rural residents living more than 10 kilometres away from a health facility, and skilled health personnel attend only 40 per cent of births.
Fertility is high, with an average of 6.0 children per woman. Approximately 34 per cent of young people under the age of 20 have already had at least one child. This is a result of the low contraceptive prevalence rate with high unmet need for contraception; ensuring reproductive health commodity security has become a priority.
Gender inequality persists because of historical, cultural, socio-economic and political reasons. Violence against women, including rape, remains a major challenge.
EARHN’s Achievements
1. Reinvigorated EARHN and revised the EARHN Strategic Plan 2001 that had expired in 2005. The Strategic Planning meeting was held in Kampala in December 2007. Experts and representatives from EARHN Member countries (Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda), collaborating countries (Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe), PPD, Hewlett Foundation, UNFPA, DSW, PAI, IPPF DSW, AU, Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition and RHU participated. With support from PPD ARO, the Strategic Plan has been finalised and printed. The revised SP takes into consideration significant developments including sharing of best practices in RH, Population and Development. Most significantly, RHCS has been incorporated as key factor in promoting RH in the region.
2. EARHN participation in the Union of African Population Studies (UAPS) Conference held December 10 -14, 2007. The main aim of the meeting was to promote sharing of research experiences in the field of RH, Population and Development.
3. Successfully organised EARHN coordination meeting in March 2008 in Kampala. Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda participated and developed country specific annual work plans that have guided the countries to contribute to the realisation of the goal and the objectives laid out in the Strategic Plan.
4. Produced and disseminated the EARHN News letter. ….copies printed and will soon be posted on PPD Websites of the EARHN Member countries. Special thanks to the authors and the editorial committee.
5. Field visit to Rwanda in April 2008 to popularise the network and PPD among the top government officials. We met officials from the Ministries of Health and Finance and Economic Development. We shared experiences and best practices on how to keep population and development issues high on the development agenda. Mainly discussed the role of MPs and learnt the contribution of the VHTs to improvement of quality of life as good practices.
6. Field visit/study tour to South Africa (June 2008). Based on the EARHN Strategic Plan, the EARHN – South Africa study tour, provided an opportunity for EARHN member countries to share experiences and best practices based on South Africa’s successful work in population, reproductive health and development. S/A’s National Population Policy encourages programs for birth control, family planning, and population and development. The Population Policy briefs we shared are quite informative and provide good platform to stimulate debate on population issues in the country.
At Natal Kwazulu’s Youth centre in Durban, the programs are well run, well managed, and illustrated various approaches and strategies. What was most impressive was when we gathered in one of the clinics to hear youth speak to us about how through drama productions, they educate their peers about using contraceptives in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. This type of education is extremely important in countries where unmet need for family planning among sexually active teenage girls remains high. The sex education presentation made us appreciate the need for such clinics and programs in all our countries.
7. High level policy meeting on RHCS, August 28, 2020 in Kampala with representatives of Parliaments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Participants agreed that countries would only be able to achieve Universal access to SRH, if they are supported to increase the resources allocated to the health sector to 15% as was recalled during the Abuja Declaration. The current health expenditures including; 11% for Tanzania and 9% for Kenya and Uganda respectively are below the required levels. The countries also committed to push their governments to ensure that the Maputo PoA is implemented through the country specific comprehensive Roadmaps and on their part, .advocate for increased resources that will also go along way in ensuring zero tolerance to RH stock outs at all levels.
Uganda’s Achievements
Supported advocacy and policy dialogue to establish and increase maternal and child survival efforts. The Road Map to accelerate reduction in neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality was presented to Members of Parliament in November 2007 and has been revised to incorporate their input. The road map has finally been costed and will be launched when Uganda commemorates the safe motherhood day in October 2008.
Advocacy and capacity building efforts (both human and financial) have resulted in the elaboration of linkages between population and development at district and lower government levels with resultant inclusion of POPDEV in development plans. Of particular importance, has been the incorporation of POPDEV indicators into the LG Assessment Mannual, which will ensure data collection and management and use for planning purposes.
Revitalized partnerships with Uganda’s parliamentary Forum on Food Security, Population and Development and the Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (Uganda Chapter). The Forum and the Network have received technical support and back stopping from UNFPA, RHU, DSW and PPD ARO.
Developed RH IEC information materials and targeted communities through National Safe motherhood Good Will Ambassadors, Faith Based Organisations and Cultural Institutions to change attitudes and behaviour towards improved health and well being.
Aligned country wide RH interventions with health sector-wide approaches, which include the Maputo Plan of Action and the road map for accelerating the reduction of neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. This has been done through the Multi-sectoral Task Force meetings and dissemination of the Maputo PoA and the Road Map to stake holders at national and Sub national levels.
Attempts to expand family planning service sites and outreaches nationwide. Expanded contraceptive method mix and policy revision to allow midwives and clinical officers to offer permanent and long term permanent methods and also expand Community Based distribution of Depo Provera is underway.
Efforts to strengthen reproductive health commodity security through capacity building for Logistics management and development of the RHCS strategy, including condom programming; (Process is underway). This will allow the establishment of a budget line for the purchase of contraceptives.
Attempts to strengthen adolescent reproductive health services by creating youth centres at selected health centres and encouraging youth participation in the designing and planning of their activities through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), notoriously: YEAH, Parents Concern etc….
Lessons learnt “Best practices”
• Sustained political commitment is fundamental in the success of POPDEV program.
• Advocacy program for religious and cultural leaders for promotion of family Planning, MCH and other reproductive health is paramount because of the religious and traditional beliefs and practices.
• Pro-active role of the mass media (both national and district level) Journalists have stimulated and sustained POPDEV public debates.
• Multisectoral approach involving other ministries and sectors for promotion of family planning, MCH and other reproductive health (Hold Task Force meetings for the reduction of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality).
• Active Government –NGO collaboration. It is not possible for the GOU alone to do everything for the betterment of the people. NGOs involvement increases the strength of the government to bring success in mass program.
• Contraceptive commodity security must be given due priority if family planning programme targets are to be met.
• Targeting grassroots’ communities is key in eliminating poverty.
• Women empowerment through micro credit, skill development and Functional Adult Literacy.
Constraints faced include:
1. Minimal participation and contribution of EARHN Members to the network.
2. Un defined coordination roles for EARHN.
3. Limited coverage of the programmes.
4. Weakness in the HMIS makes it difficult to demonstrate progress made and to implement an effective monitoring and evaluation plan.
5. Lack of focus to ensure access of the disadvantage groups, especially in rural areas to better quality client centred services.
Recommendations
1. Mechanisms to promote participation of member countries in the Network should be designed.
2. The Eastern Africa countries should adopt a Millennium Development Goal-based development plan, like the Madagascar Action Plan, 2007-2011. The plan reflects the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and includes specific commitments on health, family planning, HIV/AIDS, national solidarity, gender equality and the empowerment of women.
UGANDA 2008/09 ANNUAL WORK PLAN
STRATEGIC FOCUS 1: Advocacy and coalition building
Objective 1.1 To increase awareness and support for RH among key policy and decision makers.
SA 1. 1.1. Advocate and promote SRH in the region
SA 1. 1.2. Enhance members’ capacity to undertake advocacy
Activities:
Participate in the development and implementation of the regional RH Advocacy Strategy
Hold RH advocacy workshops with members of parliament, development partners and district leaders
Conduct media advocacy campaigns
Hold Task Force track progress on reduction of IMR and MMR (Road map)
Objective 1.2. To strengthen linkages and strategic partnerships with other international, regional and national institutions and civil society organizations to create synergies, avoid duplication and maximize available resources in furtherance of the implementation of agreements (ICPD, MDGs, Maputo PoA, etc).
SA 1.2.2 Strengthen internal and external communication mechanisms (e.g. newsletters, website)
SA 1.2.3. Facilitate exchange visits
SA 1.2.4. Engage with cultural and traditional institutions to address socio-cultural barriers that impede SRHR (e.g. SGBV, FGM/C)
Activities:
Participate in the production and dissemination of EARHN newsletter
Produce and disseminate RH fact sheets, brochures and policy briefs
Host and participate in regional exchange and learning visits.
Participate in regional and international conventions (including PPD Board meeting 2008).
Hold BCC/advocacy conventions with CSOs, cultural institutions and FBOs to promote safe motherhood and child survival
STRATEGIC FOCUS 2: Programme Development and Expansion
Objective 2.1. To enhance capacity of partner organizations to offer integrated SRHR programmes
SA2.1.1: Share good practices and information
SA2.1.2: Formulate an annual WORK PLAN and monitor and evaluate EARHN activities
Activities:
Source, package, document, disseminate and exchange good practices and innovative models Participate in 2 EARHN coordination meetings.
Participate in PCC annual coordination meeting
Participate in short courses and field exchange visits.
Objective 2.2 To facilitate the strengthening of health systems, in particular with regard to provision of RH supplies and their procurement and distribution
SA2.2.1: Facilitate information sharing among member and collaborating countries on RH supplies (provision, procurement, distribution)
Activities:
Hold regional high level policy workshop (s) on commodity security for parliamentarians in the region.
Conduct capacity building workshop (s) for Logistics management in the region
Strategic Focus 3: Institutional Strengthening
Objective 3.1 To strengthen EARHN’s organizational capacities, systems and structure.
3.1.1 To strengthen EARHN’s organizational capacities, systems and structure.
3.1.2 To coordinate activities and mobilise resources in furtherance of EARHN’s goals and objectives.
Activities:
Implement 2009 annual work plans
Coordination of EARHN member countries
Write proposals for funding