Poor nutrition affects district development
Poor nutrition and a large population has affected the development of some districts in the country.
By Arthur Baguma
Poor nutrition and a large population has affected the development of some districts in the country.
The UNICEF representative, Keith Mckenzie, on Thursday revealed that districts in western Uganda are showing worse human development indicators than those in the north.
Explaining the surprising phenomenon, at a meeting with media managers, Mckenzie said the south-western districts included Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Kasese.
His remarks were echoed in the 2007 analysis of the Situation of Children and Women in Uganda, a report released by UNICEF on Thursday.
The report, cited the Uganda demographic health survey 2006, that showed that 32% of the children in Uganda under the age of five were short for their age and 12% were severely stunted.
It noted that the figures in the central region and south-western Uganda are alarming, with atleast 42% of the children under five in the south-western region being stunted or short for their age.
The central region is equally alarming with 33% of the children in the same age group reported stunted.
Stunting was still a serious problem in the Karamoja region affecting up to 48% of the children in Kitgum.
“While stunting in Karamoja and the north is somewhat expected and understood given the situation, stunting in the south-west and central regions is worrying,†said UNICEF.
The report indicates that northern Uganda fares slightly better than south-western Uganda with an infant mortality of 105 per 1,000 live births compared to 110 per 1,000 live births in the south-western region.
The central region also fairs poorly with about 100 deaths per 1,000 live births. Kampala has the lowest at 55 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Child mortality (for children under five) countrywide has fallen from 156 to 138, indicating a big drop.
The direct causes of infant mortality are mostly preventable diseases including malaria, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, anaemia, malnutrition and various birth complications.
Karamoja indicators, however point to a crisis worse than northern Uganda. This could be due to isolation, and development packages that are never delivered.
Only less than 10% of the population in Kabango has access to clean drinking water. Kabong and Kotido have the lowest coverage of latrines, trailing at 2%. Rukungiri district has 95%, which is the highest latrine coverage in the country.
Mckenzie said for the next three and half years, UNICEF would focus on fighting malaria, immunisation programmes, oral re-hydration therapy, antenatal care, primary education, water, sanitation and environmental protection.
The situational analysis, warns that deprivation of children and women is still widespread in Uganda. It illustrated disparities including those related to access to resources, gender discrimination and geographical location.
“While national commitment to reducing these disparities is strong, evidenced by the policy and legal framework established, a key challenge is to translate existing policies and laws into action.â€
However, the report noted that the north has had many interventions leading to improved access to facilities like water.
Poor nutrition and a large population has affected the development of some districts in the country.
The UNICEF representative, Keith Mckenzie, on Thursday revealed that districts in western Uganda are showing worse human development indicators than those in the north.
Explaining the surprising phenomenon, at a meeting with media managers, Mckenzie said the south-western districts included Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Kasese.
His remarks were echoed in the 2007 analysis of the Situation of Children and Women in Uganda, a report released by UNICEF on Thursday.
The report, cited the Uganda demographic health survey 2006, that showed that 32% of the children in Uganda under the age of five were short for their age and 12% were severely stunted.
It noted that the figures in the central region and south-western Uganda are alarming, with atleast 42% of the children under five in the south-western region being stunted or short for their age.
The central region is equally alarming with 33% of the children in the same age group reported stunted.
Stunting was still a serious problem in the Karamoja region affecting up to 48% of the children in Kitgum.
“While stunting in Karamoja and the north is somewhat expected and understood given the situation, stunting in the south-west and central regions is worrying,†said UNICEF.
The report indicates that northern Uganda fares slightly better than south-western Uganda with an infant mortality of 105 per 1,000 live births compared to 110 per 1,000 live births in the south-western region.
The central region also fairs poorly with about 100 deaths per 1,000 live births. Kampala has the lowest at 55 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Child mortality (for children under five) countrywide has fallen from 156 to 138, indicating a big drop.
The direct causes of infant mortality are mostly preventable diseases including malaria, acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, anaemia, malnutrition and various birth complications.
Karamoja indicators, however point to a crisis worse than northern Uganda. This could be due to isolation, and development packages that are never delivered.
Only less than 10% of the population in Kabango has access to clean drinking water. Kabong and Kotido have the lowest coverage of latrines, trailing at 2%. Rukungiri district has 95%, which is the highest latrine coverage in the country.
Mckenzie said for the next three and half years, UNICEF would focus on fighting malaria, immunisation programmes, oral re-hydration therapy, antenatal care, primary education, water, sanitation and environmental protection.
The situational analysis, warns that deprivation of children and women is still widespread in Uganda. It illustrated disparities including those related to access to resources, gender discrimination and geographical location.
“While national commitment to reducing these disparities is strong, evidenced by the policy and legal framework established, a key challenge is to translate existing policies and laws into action.â€
However, the report noted that the north has had many interventions leading to improved access to facilities like water.