Civil
Society Calls on Candidates to Put Health Services at the Heart of Uganda’s 2016
Election Campaigns: #NoHealthNoVotes!
Health Sector Manifesto defines 10 Actions Candidates Must Commit to in Order to
Rebuild the Health Sector
A nation of sick Ugandans cannot benefit from economic
development
(Kampala)
A coalition of civil society organizations working for
access to essential health services in Uganda today launched the “Uganda
Election 2016 Health Manifesto,” a platform demanding all parties and
candidates commit to correcting massive failings of the health sector in Uganda
to deliver essential, quality prevention and treatment services.This marks the
first time civil society organizations will join together to leverage Uganda’s
general elections in order to prioritize the health needs and health rights of
the Ugandan electorate.
“Access to prevention and treatment are
literally life-and-death political issues that should be taking center stage during
our 2016 elections,” said Joshua Wamboga, Executive Director of UNASO. “As
voters we will not stand by and allow candidates and political parties to be silent
about the most vital issue facing our country—our health and our health rights.
Using this Health Manifesto, we are demanding that all candidates commit
themselves to investing in sufficient medicines, health workers, and in the political
required to stop the epidemic of preventable death and disease in our
communities.”
The
demands contained in the Manifestoinclude a demand to scale up per capita
health financing from current levels (only USD 10.50) to the minimum
recommended by WHO (USD 44) by 2021. Other priorities include increasing the
remuneration of health workers and the budget for essential medicines as well
as confronting high-level corruption that robs Ugandans of life saving health
service delivery.
“Lack of focus on our health needs by politicians is a
disgrace, and we are here to say, ‘no more,’ “ said Rachel Nandelenga of the International Community of Women Living with
HIV/AIDS Eastern Africa (ICWEA). “All candidates seeking elective positions should pronounce
themselves on these 10 points.
We commit to empowering citizens to choose
leaders whose manifestos speak to these demands—we will hold them accountable
from the national level right down to the grassroots.”
The coalition pointed out that the
most repeated excuse—lack of funding—is not credible, since other priorities
receive funding when considered politically beneficial. For example, Parliament
received 2 billion shillings to debate during a recent 2-day special sitting;
State House spends more than 600 million shillings each day.
“As citizens of
Uganda our fate is in our hands—every five years we have a special power to
raise the bar on health service delivery by making our demands known and making
use of our vote. We pledge to do that now,” said Lilian Mworeko, Executive
Director of ICWEA.
“We
are tired of politicians prioritizing infrastructure and telling us health must
wait,” said William Kidega of PATH. “Health cannot wait—not when our public
health facilities routinely report stock outs, pregnant women suffer and die of
totally preventable causes, and drug-resistant TB is on the rise.
Investing in
health service delivery means investing in social infrastructure that is the
only path to equitable economic development for ordinary Ugandans. This is
non-negotiable.”
A recent poll
conducted in August 2014 by Columbia University reported that
healthcare is the most important issue
for Ugandan voters. Across two large public opinion surveys conducted in 2011
and in 2014, voters said healthcare was the most important issue for Parliament
to address of these data showed that health, according to
voters, is far more important than joblessness, education, or crime (Source:
Columbia University 2014).
Uganda’s
general election campaigns start October 25. “Between now and the start of
general elections we expect all candidates to adopt these 10 points in their
manifestos,” said Dennis Odwe of AGHA Uganda.
“We will meet with each party
individually as well as Independent candidates to deliver this demand.” Civil society members intend to
work in key constituencies to support grassroots health rights activists to
demand accountability from political candidates, and engage on health crises
that have too long gone ignored.
ENDS
