Uganda News

The WHO Representative for Uganda Dr Joaquim Saweka paid a two-days working visit to Soroti district, Eastern Uganda to check on the implementation of the Making Pregnancy Safer (MPS) project that was initiated by WHO and the Ministry of Health.

Over the years, WHO has supported government strengthen maternal and child health services through a number of activities like immunization, Safe Motherhood, and implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI). 

Immunization programmes, started in 1983. At that time, measles was the leading cause of death among children. By 1987, after countrywide immunization against all childhood immunizable diseases, measles ceased to be an important cause of mortality in children and likewise the other diseases were reduced significantly.

The decentralization of health services and programmes to district level has been actively supported by WHO. This has involved capacity building at district and community level, monitoring and evaluation programmes and provision of health learning materials to districts. 

WHO provides the government of Uganda technical assistance for management of national health programmes (primary health care, malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, onchocerciasis, epidemiological surveillance, control and elimination of specific community diseases). Technical assistance has taken the form of training, consultants, equipment, and vehicles. In some situations WHO provides drugs.

WHO has supported the Ministry of Health, District Health Teams and other local and international organisations to mitigate the health impact of the conflict in northern Uganda. More support has been in the area of disease outbreaks i.e. Ebola in Gulu and Bundibugyo districts; Marburg in Kamwenge district; Meningitis in Arua district; Cholera in several parts of the country; and health care delivery to the flood affected districts in eastern Uganda.

24th November 2008. The First Lady of Uganda Hon Janet Museveni launched Uganda’s Roadmap to accelerate reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity calling on all partners and stakeholders to play their role in its implementation. The launch took place during the commemoration of the Safe Motherhood Day for 2008 held in Buwama, Mpigi district.

30th January 2009. WHO/Uganda Staff in a group Photo during their annual retreat held in Jinja Nile Resort from 21st to 23rd January, 2009 

26th March 2009. The Ministry of Health will strive to ensure that the fight against TB is intensified and that all leaders, stakeholder, communities, families and individuals are mobilized for this cause. This was stated by the Minister of Information and National Guidance Mrs Kabakumba Masiko during the World TB Day commemoration held in Masindi District under the national theme: I am stopping TB and Controlling HIV.

Avril 2009. Uganda immunized over 2.3 million children against point in the first round of polio immunization done in 29 high risk districts. This was over the 2.2 million children who had been targeted in this emergency exercise that is in response to an outbreak of polio in Amuru district northern Uganda. 

27 Avril 2009 -- The WHO Country Representative for Uganda, Dr. Joaquim Saweka (standing), the Programme Manager, AIDS Control Programme of the Uganda Ministry of Health Dr Zainab Akol, and Eastern Region ART Coordinator Dr Emmy Habyara during the official opening of the International Integrated Management of Adult and Childhood Illnesses (IMAI) Training workshop at Crested Crane Hotel, Jinja April 20th 2009.