NPC donates hospital items, seedlings to Lwengo

Jul 22, 2020

The items were also part of celebrations to mark this year's World Population Day, which was marked on July 11 at a scientific ceremony held at the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC).

HEALTH   COVID-19   RELIEF

LWENGO - The National Population Council (NPC) has donated an assortment of items to Lwengo district as one of their contributions towards the improvement of the health status of mainly mothers.

The items were also part of celebrations to mark this year's World Population Day, which was marked on July 11 at a scientific ceremony held at the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC). A few guests were invited for the occasion due to restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Charles Zirarema, the Director Policy and planning who represented the Director-General, Dr Jotham Musinguzi handed over 17 hospital beds and mattresses plus an incubator to the LC5 chairman, George Mutabaazi and the RDC, Jjuuko Kasiita.

The Council, in partnership with the National Forest Authority also contributed 20,000 seedlings of hardwood that will be planted on bare hills to improve vegetation cover.  The donations were part of NPC's community project intended to improve health service delivery in the communities.    

This year's theme is "Leveraging Uganda's Population Dynamics for a resilient future amidst COVID-19". It was marked both at State House where the president delivered his address via television and also marked at Lwengo in a scientific manner.   

"This day is very important for us as NPC because it is when we reflect on the achievements so far made in improving the quality of life and standards of living of Uganda and reflect on those challenges that still confront us," said Charles Musana, the Principal National Program Officer.

George Mutabaazi (left) the Lwengo district chairman commenting after receiving items from the National Population Council including a hospital bed on which a police officer slept to demonstrate its comfort, on July 11, 2020. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He said in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the Western World it was mainly the elderly at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus and dying from it.

He said in Uganda, in contrast, the biggest percentage of the population is young and as a country, we may need to tailor our own solutions to fight COVID-19 because our young population may not be as affected as the elderly populations in other countries," he explained.  

He, however, encouraged people to comply with the health measures that were issued by the ministry of health.  

Mutabaazi commended NPC for organizing a scientific function, saying government has always spent huge sums of money on organizing lavish functions, which he said was a wastage.

He said many government departments and ministries consume all their budgets on organizing conferences, workshops and travels abroad, which he said should have been used to develop the country.  

He insisted that the government must maintain the standards developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and always invite a few people at functions   

NPC organized prior activities including training on the use of Family Planning and other Reproductive Health methods.

The youth, represented by Sudais Mwaawe and Catherine Nassimbwa, under their organizations, Right Here Right Now Uganda consortium and Uganda Youth Alliance for Family Planning and Adolescent Health, said many young people have been avoiding health facilities for fear of approaching health workers.

In their statement, they said they lacked confidence and self-esteem but after the training organized by NPC, they gained skills and committed themselves to encourage their peers to always seek information from health facilities. 

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