Uganda, UK strengthen healthcare collaboration

Dr Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary ministry of health, has called upon Ugandan health experts in London to continue working together with Ugandan doctors to end child mortality.

She said this during the East Africa-UK Health summit in London (UK) Organised by Moses Mulimira, a Ugandan Health care Specialist.

"Uganda is now changing from just a curative public health policy. We are going to put all our strength on disease prevention in public health. Disease prevention is the only means to reduce the morbidity and mortality of our children. With this partnership, developing countries can learn from already developed countries on how to stop child mortality," she explained.

Dr.Atwine also noted that the collaboration has helped Uganda to change its public health policy from the curative one that focuses on treating diseases, to a preventative one that emphasises a healthy lifestyle in order to reduce hospital admissions.

She said this can be possible through free training and research.

The collaboration between the UK and Uganda public healthcare institutions is largely through the Uganda UK Health Alliance (UUKHA) the UK registered body with offices in both countries.

The Uganda UK Health Alliance (UUHA) is an informal group of health-orientated organisations registered in Uganda and UK working together to promote coordination between Uganda and UK Governmental and non-Governmental health organisations and also to promote internationally recognised health care delivery standards in both countries.

Speaking during the summit, Moses Mulimira, newly elected head of (UUHA) said that selecting a Ugandan in Diaspora to lead this global health development organisation offers an exciting opportunity.

"There are so many children dying in government hospitals because of negligence of both Medical Personnel and parents. Corruption and incompetence are some of the reasons why children are dying. In order to stop the deaths, Ugandan government needs to carry out independent investigations in each death. If the medical personnel is found guilty, then he/she has to be punished," said Mulimira.

Mulimira also noted that through the collaboration, they will train Ugandan doctors on how to handle children cases.

UK's trade envoy to Uganda and patron of Uganda UK Health Alliance Lord Dollar Popat, will be the patron of the Uganda health UK health alliance.

Through the collaboration, there is increased focus on non-communicable diseases including mental health, hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, obesity, chronic respiratory diseases and some forms of cancer in both countries which are on the rise in both countries.