Covid-19: Civil society petition govt over maternal health
Apr 10, 2020
"We need to ensure that this funding is additional and is allocated transparently with consultation from the civil society," Mulumba noted.
Civil society organisations have petitioned the Government over deliverance of maternal health care, family planning, HIV and other essential services for all in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a petition addressed to COVID-19 national taskforce chairperson, Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, a total of 23 health promotion NGOs, appealed to the Government to ensure that health services continue to be provided and easily accessible.
"These include but not limited to: antenatal care visits and deliveries, accidents, dialysis, hypertension, heart failure, cancer, ART refills, immunizations, blood transfusion and sickle cell disease," the petition stated.
They added that government should continue to meet its obligation of preserving fundamental health rights during this period when the most vulnerable Ugandans are struggling to get their urgent health needs addressed without any safety or social protection.
The executive director of Center for Health, Human Rights and Development, Moses Mulumba, said the civil society wants the $15m the World Bank in Uganda donated to government towards COVID-19 fight to be an opportunity for the Government to reproductive maternal and child health services.
"We need to ensure that this funding is additional and is allocated transparently with consultation from the civil society," Mulumba noted.
In a national address on Wednesday, President Yoweri Museveni acknowledge that there is still a problem in evacuating pregnant women, most especially in rural areas.
The civil society also recommended that Cabinet makes a revision to the supplementary budget request to give further prioritisation of health sector expenditure, designate emergencies vehicles for each sub county that are solely to be used for responding to non-elective, urgent and emergency health issues.
They also want rights and needs of health workers at the frontline of giving COVID-19 to be prioritised beyond safety gears and equipment but also consider improving their living conditions and welfare.
The Government should provide psycho-social support services for people affected by COVID-19, including patients, their families and healthcare workers.