Sh88b reproductive health project launched
Sep 03, 2009
A NEW project worth sh88b has been launched to offer integrated reproductive health services in Uganda.
By Halima Shaban
A NEW project worth sh88b has been launched to offer integrated reproductive health services in Uganda.
Strides for Family Health project, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development, was launched last week to train and support health service providers across 15 districts in Uganda.
Speaking at the launch, Paul Hamilton, the director, said the project aimed at improving quality access to integrated reproductive health, family planning and child survival services at each health centre.
He said this would enable people get all the health care services from one centre at the same time.
“When a mother brings her child for immunisation, she can also access family planning services at the same time or be tested for HIV,†Hamilton said.
He said the project would also focus on healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies and community-based family planning, adding that a variety of contraceptive methods should be availed to couples who wish to plan and limit child birth.
According to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2006 report, the percentage of women, who need to space or limit their births but cannot get family planning services, stands at 41%.
Only 24% of women in the reproductive age group are using family planning. This leads to unintended pregnancies, miscarriages, increased infant and maternal mortality.
Hamilton said high quality family planning services enable couples to have children when they want them, adding that family planning improves children’s health and reduces the number of infant and maternal death.
Gloria Sangiwa, the director technical quality and innovations at management sciences for health, said the project would contribute to the Government’s efforts to improve the health of families and communities.
“Our goal is to have over eight million people access quality health services in these districts five years from now,†she said.
The districts to benefit from the project include Bugiri, Kumi, Kamuli, Kaliro, Mayuge, Kayunga and Luwero. Others are Nakasongola, Mityana, Sembabule, Kalangala, Mpigi, Kasese, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge.
A NEW project worth sh88b has been launched to offer integrated reproductive health services in Uganda.
Strides for Family Health project, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development, was launched last week to train and support health service providers across 15 districts in Uganda.
Speaking at the launch, Paul Hamilton, the director, said the project aimed at improving quality access to integrated reproductive health, family planning and child survival services at each health centre.
He said this would enable people get all the health care services from one centre at the same time.
“When a mother brings her child for immunisation, she can also access family planning services at the same time or be tested for HIV,†Hamilton said.
He said the project would also focus on healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies and community-based family planning, adding that a variety of contraceptive methods should be availed to couples who wish to plan and limit child birth.
According to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2006 report, the percentage of women, who need to space or limit their births but cannot get family planning services, stands at 41%.
Only 24% of women in the reproductive age group are using family planning. This leads to unintended pregnancies, miscarriages, increased infant and maternal mortality.
Hamilton said high quality family planning services enable couples to have children when they want them, adding that family planning improves children’s health and reduces the number of infant and maternal death.
Gloria Sangiwa, the director technical quality and innovations at management sciences for health, said the project would contribute to the Government’s efforts to improve the health of families and communities.
“Our goal is to have over eight million people access quality health services in these districts five years from now,†she said.
The districts to benefit from the project include Bugiri, Kumi, Kamuli, Kaliro, Mayuge, Kayunga and Luwero. Others are Nakasongola, Mityana, Sembabule, Kalangala, Mpigi, Kasese, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge.