Uganda health records improve

Jul 22, 2007

THERE has been a marked improvement in Uganda's health indicators, health minister, Dr. Stephen Malinga, has said.

By Joyce Namutebi

THERE has been a marked improvement in Uganda's health indicators, health minister, Dr. Stephen Malinga, has said.

The mortality rate of infants (children under one year) went down from 88 per 1,000 live births in 2001 to 76 in 2006.

Among children under the age of five, the mortality rate dropped from 152 per 1,000 live births to 137 in the same period, the minister said.

In his policy statement for the financial year 2007/08, he also noted a significant decline in the number of mothers dying during delivery: From 527 per 100,000 live births in 1995 to 435 in 2006.

The minister attributed the successes in children’s health to immunisation, a decline in poverty at the household level, better nutrition and improved breast-feeding.

The reduction in maternal deaths, he said, was due to declining poverty levels, improved access to antenatal care, family planning and better delivery services.

Malinga said the ministry had improved the functioning of the grade four health centres, the referral of patients by providing ambulances and communication equipment, and emergency obstetric care services.

He noted that reproductive health remained a priority for the ministry until maternal health indicators improved to acceptable levels.

He was, however, concerned about the serious under-funding of the health sector, with maternal and child health having a shortfall of sh15b.

Human resources for health lacked nearly sh29b, health supplies sh78b, health infrastructure sh1,185b and a village health team strategy sh9.5b.

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