Increasing Rate of Maternal Deaths in Uganda

At all times giving birth is known to bring great joy, however getting pregnant and expecting to give birth while in Uganda has gradually become a death sentence. Maternal deaths in Uganda has stopped making news. Almost everyday social media is flooded with lamentations of how a woman lost a battle while giving another human life. Giving birth is not a disease and women should not die while giving birth.

I inclined  to believe that there is a "curse of personal gynaecologist in Uganda," because of the new trend of women seeking for "personal gynaecologist". The fact that there are few health workers as compared to the general population, very few women can access medical attention.  In most cases women fear for their lives and resort to what seems the best option. Unfortunately many have lost their lives because this "personal gynacologist" is probably attending to another patient in a different hospital.

With the shortage of medical personnel especially doctors who are expected to work 24/7, health circumstances are getting worse every day in Uganda.
It is also very unfortunate that the law markers are busy discussing less important issues like removing presidential age limit.
Recommendations to Uganda government
1. Priotise maternal health by providing medicine and ambulances.
2.Invest more in education of health workers. Offer more scholarships for medical courses.
3. Motivate health workers by increasing their salaries.
4. Build homes for health workers especially midwives near hospital.

#maternalhealth
#maternaldeath
#Ugandagovernment
#mortalityrate
#agelimit
#birth
#gynaecologist
#midwives
#health

Who is killing women in Entebbe?

"Another woman raped, murdered," has been become the official headline for most media stations in Uganda. Many social media channels have also been awash with bad news of murders of young women in Wakiso district, mainly Entebbe.  

In only three months, 19 women have killed in Entebbe and the last victim's body was found in Nansana. Today the number has reached 20 but unfortunately little has been done about to stop the vice from escalating. 

This is a violation of not only women's rights but also human rights. Why is the public blaming only female legislators for not doing something? This is everyone's problem and the public needs to task government to give it protection.

According to a story published in the Daily Monitor, five days ago the crime forced Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura and Security Minister Henry Tumukunde, to camp in the area but this did not stop the vice.

Considering the fact the State House is located in Entebbe and it is supposedly known to be the most secure area, who is this person who doesn't fear security and goes a head to kill  people?

According to a Daily Monitor story, "The latest information from the police, according to the Force’s spokesperson, Mr Asan Kasingye, is that 12 of the victims have been classified as cases of sexual assault, four cases of domestic violence, one was killed by two brothers in what the police have classified as a revenge killing, and the rest seemed to be ritual murders."

The questions remain, who is killing young women, why are they targeting women? is it because they are the weaker sex? and why are they sexually assaulted before being killed? is it a way of creating fear? why are the murders concentrated in one area, an area known for its tight security? what can be done to stop the vice? when will the police catch the serial murderer?

#women #violenceagainstwomen #entebbemurders #ritualmurders #ugandapolice

Poor Ugandans have a Right to Health

In response to a story that was published yesterday, 9th May 2017, in the Daily Monitor, one of Uganda's news papers, the article entitled, "Government to stop giving drugs to health centers," is  heart breaker, it left my heart shattered. At a time when the Government should be rolling out the national insurance scheme or affordable health care for everyone, we instead get sad news.

This  is a confirmation that the Uganda government is slowly specialising in the violation of human rights, most especially the right to health. I am using the term "violation of rights" because the Constitution of Uganda requires the State to endeavour to fulfill the fundamental rights of all Ugandans to social justice and economic development and in particular, ensure that all Ugandans enjoy rights and opportunities and access to education, health services, clean and safe water, work, decent shelter, adequate clothing, food security and pension and retirement benefits.[2] 

It is arguable that by not providing drugs, the government is not endeavouring that citizens enjoy the right to health as stipulated in the Constitution, it is therefore violating the law. It is very unfortunate that this whole process of freezing drug supply is only going to affect the poor Ugandans and will result in more deaths. Most rich people can afford going to private hospitals and getting first class health care or even travel abroad (USA, UK, Kenya and India) as it has become a norm but where will the poor Ugandan go?

"Drugs such as paracetamol (panadol) and morphine, a narcotic pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent, Hepatitis B vaccines as well as surgical items such as gloves and cotton gauze and mama kits will not be provided at all health centres II, III and IV across the country."

Uganda was progressively reducing the number of maternal deaths from 16 to 13 but unfortunately a few months from now, that might be history. In 2015, the World Bank observed that Uganda recorded up to 343 deaths per every 100 000 live births. These deaths are due to severe bleeding, infection, hypertensive disorders and obstructed labour. Some are also due to pregnancy related diseases such as malaria, diabetes, anemia and hepatitis.[1]

Let me assert that 13 women die daily while giving birth. There are two notable cases; in 2009, Sylvia Nalubowa died while in labour in Mityana district in Uganda because she could not provide enough maternity kit. In 2010, Jennifer Anguko died under similar situation at Arua regional hospital. These are two of the many women who die every day because they cannot get medical attention for lack of maternity kits. How many more does the Uganda need to register before it can litigate the right to health?

Constitution of Uganda

It is arguable that the Constitution of Uganda does not specifically assign a section to the right to health but through other sub-sections requires the State to take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic medical services to the population, promote a good water management system at all levels and take appropriate steps to encourage people to grow and store adequate food; establish national food reserves and encourage and promote proper nutrition through mass education and other appropriate means in order to build a healthy State.

The right to health under International law

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Constitution defines the right to health as "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health," and enumerates some principles of this right as healthy child development; equitable dissemination of medical knowledge and its benefits; and government-provided social measures to ensure adequate health.[3]

It is submitted that the right to health is a fundamental human right and therefore guaranteed by international law through treaties. Uganda has ratified most of the treaties which promote the right to health under regional and international law and is therefore obliged to respect, protect and fulfill human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups. 

It is observed that the human right to health is recognized in numerous international instruments. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25, paragraph 1) affirms that, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.”[4]

It is argued that the right to health as explained in the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Right (ICESCR) provides the highest comprehensive standard on the right to health and is in most cases considered as the universal minimum standard of the right to health to which all individuals are entitled. Article 12.1 of the ICESCR provides for everyone’s right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health'. [5]

It is observed that in August 2000, the United Nations General Comment 14 further clarified these core obligations of the state in regard to health.[6] It interprets the right to health "as an inclusive right extending not only to timely and appropriate health care but also to the underlying determinants of health, such as access to safe and potable water and adequate sanitation, an adequate supply of safe food, nutrition and housing, healthy occupational and environmental conditions, and access to health-related education and information, including on sexual and reproductive health".[7]

The right to health is recognised in so many other international legal instruments such the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,[8] in article11, paragraph 1(f), and article 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women,[9] the right to health is recognised in article 5, paragraph (e) (iv) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,[10] in article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child[11] and Responsibilities of states and international organizations. 

Similarly, the right to health has been proclaimed by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1989/11, as well as in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action[12] and other international instruments.

The right health is also acknowledged in the regional legal instruments; Article 16 of the African Charter for Human and People’s rights provides every individual the right to enjoy the best attainable state of physical and mental health. It adds that States Parties shall take all the necessary measures to protect the health of their populations and to ensure that they receive medical attention when they need it.

Conclusion

It is under rare circumstance that rich people will go to health center II and III for medical care. This is a refuge for those Ugandans who don't have medical insurance, those who cannot earn a dollar a day. Even the poor Ugandan has the right to health. Whatever happened to funds allocated for these drugs, we don't want to know, all we want is distribution of drugs.

Sources

---

[1]Michael Addaney, "Uganda: Why the Constitutional Court should rule on the right to health," AfricLaw

https://africlaw.com/2016/06/03/uganda-why-the-constitutional-court-should-rule-on-the-right-to-health/

[2] Constitution of Uganda 1995 http://www.ulii.org/node/23824

[3] Constitution of the World Health Organisation (Geneva 1948) http://apps.who.int/gb/bd/PDF/bd47/EN/constitution-en.pdf

[4] Universal Declaration of Human Rights

[5] International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Article 12

[6] General Comment No. 14 (2000): The right to the highest attainable standard of health (art. 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Pg 128)

[7] L Reynolds, L London, D Sanders, “Right to Health Campaign in South Africa” People's Health Movement. (Health Systems Trust 2017) http://www.hst.org.za/news/right-health-campaign-south-africa

[8] Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

[9] Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Article11& 12) 1979

[10] International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1965

[11] Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

[12] Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action’ (12 July 1993) UN Doc  A/CONF.157/23 art 5