Life Plus: New health service launched

Dec 18, 2019

The 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey indicates that four in 10 births are unplanned.

HEALTH

The Ministry of Health, in partnership with Reproductive Health Uganda, have launched a new health service called Life Plus, which, among other things, deals with family planning, STDs and immunisation.

Richard Kabanda, the acting commissioner health services at the health ministry, said the new health service project will "go a long way in enhancing people's lives".

"The Government is to scale up access to health services in especially remote area as one way of improving the quality of life of Uganda's population and reducing diseases," he said at the launch of the service at Martyrs Clinic in Luzira.

The half-day launch, attended by local chairpersons, health experts, district health officers and other development partners, focused on the health services in Uganda.

The partners, including Reproductive Health Uganda, decided to weigh in on the project after doing extensive research around the country.

Jackson Chekweko, the organisation's executive director attended the launch and said they have to work with the health ministry to provide more services to the people.

He said sensitization within the communities is equally important.

 hhh Martyrs Clinic offers several services, including family planning services. (Credit: Umar Nsubuga)

 

"Martyrs Clinic, as the host, plans to increase the accessibility of modern services and reduce the unmet need for health services in Luzira", said Charlotte Natukunda, the facility's director.

She said the rate of teenage pregnancy in Luzira is staggeringly still high, despite the various interventions by the clinic other stakeholders.

The 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey indicates that four in 10 births are unplanned, partly attributed to a high unmet access family planning gap, in which three in every 10 women do not access family planning.

"With the help of RHU (Reproductive Health Uganda), we shall use community health extension workers to help access those that are not accessing services due to geographical, economic and social barriers," said Natukunda.

"Some of the services we give are immunisation, family planning, circumcision and HIV testing."

Dr Livingstone Makanga, the assistant commissioner of reproductive and infant health at the health ministry, said the new project is timely and will enhance the fight against HIV and AIDS.

"Access to voluntary family planning services is a human right and is one of the most critically important investments that we could make in health, in women's rights and in the life trajectories of young people," he said.

He added that with access to appropriate information and services, young people can plan better for schooling, work and childbearing on their terms.


(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});