Jinja Hospital pathetic - MP Balikowa
Monday, 29th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
JINJA Hospital is in a pathetic state, Parliament has heard. Budiope MP Henry Balikowa told Parliament presided over by the deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, on Thursday that the hospital also lacked basic medicines like panadol and septrin. Balikowa said his attention was drawn to the pitiable situation at the hospital, which serves the entire Busoga region as a referral facility, when a relative was admitted last week. “What I found at the hospital was pathetic. What perturbed me most is that medical workers do not have gloves,” Balikowa noted. He demanded an explanation from the Government. However, Kadaga did not ask any government official to give an explanation. Health minister Dr. Stephen Mallinga in an interview with The New Vision, explained that all hospitals are well supplied with drugs from the National Medical Stores. He blamed the shortages on corrupt hospital staff. “MPs should probe the situation of drugs in hospitals in their constituencies,” the minister said over the phone. An inventory of drugs sent to Jinja Hospital from the National Medical Stores under the Credit Line Programme shows that anti-malarials, pain killers, de-wormers and sterilizers were supplied. Others are sundries, condoms, contraceptives, syrups, ointments and other medical equipment. “The drugs are there unless the Primary Health Care funds have been diverted or the drugs we supplied were stolen,” Hamis Kaheru, the National Medical Stores spokesperson, said. Most patients talked to over the weekend, on condition of anonymity, expressed disgust at the appalling conditions. They said the workers ask them to buy glooves and drip water. Dr. Benon Wanume, the medical superintendent, refuted the drug shortage allegations, adding that not every patient required to be handled with gloves.
Monday, June 29, 2009
NEWS: AIDS body wants testing for all
AIDS body wants testing for all
Sunday, 28th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
THE AIDS Information Centre has launched a sh100b plan to ensure quality counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS is available to all in the next five years. “Our wish is that everyone in Uganda undergoes HIV testing. We want a situation where everyone knows his or her status for us to be able to fight the disease,” the chairperson, MP Chris Baryomunsi, said on Friday. At the moment, only 21% of Ugandan adults, or 2.5 million, know their HIV status. About one million people in Uganda are infected with the disease, according to statistics by the AIDS Information Centre, while 1.2 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. In what is considered the third phase of the epidemic in Uganda, prevalence rates have stabilised at between 6% and 7%, up from 5% a few years ago. Launching the plan at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, the Minister of Local Government, Adolf Mwesige, expressed concern over the increase in new infections among married couples. A study conducted earlier this year by Makerere University on behalf of the Uganda AIDS Commission and UNAIDS said about 650,000 Ugandans are unknowingly living with an HIV-positive partner and almost 85,000 will contract the virus this year if nothing is done to increase awareness. Mwesige called upon Ugandans to embrace voluntary counselling and testing, and appealed to the donors to support the plan, which will be financed by the Government and development partners. He also appealed to the organisation to make sure funds provided by foreign tax-payers reach the beneficiaries, adding that the misappropriation of the Global Fund money was still fresh in the minds of people. Formed in 1990, the AIDS Information Centre was the first centre to provide the public with voluntary and anonymous HIV counselling and testing. The organisation, based in Mengo-Kisenyi, Kampala, has eight branches in 41 districts. The history of AIDS in Uganda is generally divided into three phases. The first stage saw the rapid spread of HIV through urban sexual networks and along major highways from its origin in the Lake Victoria region. Doctors in this area had become aware of a surge in cases of severe wasting known locally as ‘slim disease’. In 1982, the first AIDS case in Uganda was diagnosed and the link between ‘slim’ and AIDS was clinically recognised. It was not until 1986, when the Ugandan civil war ended and President Yoweri Museveni came to power, that the country had a major HIV prevention programme. By this time, the country was in the midst of a major epidemic, with prevalence rates of up to 29% in urban areas. The programme promoted the ABC approach: abstain, be faithful and use condoms, and ensured the safety of the blood supply. Strong political leadership and commitment to tackling the rampaging epidemic, as well as prevention work at grass-root level, were key elements in the early response to AIDS. The second phase of the epidemic ran from 1992 to 2000. During this period, HIV prevalence fell dramatically, from a peak in 1991 of around 15% among adults, and over 30% among pregnant women in the cities, to around 5% in 2001. It is believed that the Government’s ABC prevention campaign was partly responsible for the decline. However, as treatment was not widely available, the high numbers of AIDS-related deaths also contributed to the reduction in the number of people living with HIV. The third phase has seen the stabilisation of prevalence during 2000-2005, and reports of a slight increase in prevalence from 2006. It is thought that the availability of free antiretroviral drugs may have led to complacency as AIDS is no longer an immediate death sentence. Many experts have also speculated that Uganda’s shift in prevention policy away from ABC towards US-backed ‘abstinence-only’ programmes may also be responsible for the increase.
Sunday, 28th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
THE AIDS Information Centre has launched a sh100b plan to ensure quality counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS is available to all in the next five years. “Our wish is that everyone in Uganda undergoes HIV testing. We want a situation where everyone knows his or her status for us to be able to fight the disease,” the chairperson, MP Chris Baryomunsi, said on Friday. At the moment, only 21% of Ugandan adults, or 2.5 million, know their HIV status. About one million people in Uganda are infected with the disease, according to statistics by the AIDS Information Centre, while 1.2 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. In what is considered the third phase of the epidemic in Uganda, prevalence rates have stabilised at between 6% and 7%, up from 5% a few years ago. Launching the plan at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, the Minister of Local Government, Adolf Mwesige, expressed concern over the increase in new infections among married couples. A study conducted earlier this year by Makerere University on behalf of the Uganda AIDS Commission and UNAIDS said about 650,000 Ugandans are unknowingly living with an HIV-positive partner and almost 85,000 will contract the virus this year if nothing is done to increase awareness. Mwesige called upon Ugandans to embrace voluntary counselling and testing, and appealed to the donors to support the plan, which will be financed by the Government and development partners. He also appealed to the organisation to make sure funds provided by foreign tax-payers reach the beneficiaries, adding that the misappropriation of the Global Fund money was still fresh in the minds of people. Formed in 1990, the AIDS Information Centre was the first centre to provide the public with voluntary and anonymous HIV counselling and testing. The organisation, based in Mengo-Kisenyi, Kampala, has eight branches in 41 districts. The history of AIDS in Uganda is generally divided into three phases. The first stage saw the rapid spread of HIV through urban sexual networks and along major highways from its origin in the Lake Victoria region. Doctors in this area had become aware of a surge in cases of severe wasting known locally as ‘slim disease’. In 1982, the first AIDS case in Uganda was diagnosed and the link between ‘slim’ and AIDS was clinically recognised. It was not until 1986, when the Ugandan civil war ended and President Yoweri Museveni came to power, that the country had a major HIV prevention programme. By this time, the country was in the midst of a major epidemic, with prevalence rates of up to 29% in urban areas. The programme promoted the ABC approach: abstain, be faithful and use condoms, and ensured the safety of the blood supply. Strong political leadership and commitment to tackling the rampaging epidemic, as well as prevention work at grass-root level, were key elements in the early response to AIDS. The second phase of the epidemic ran from 1992 to 2000. During this period, HIV prevalence fell dramatically, from a peak in 1991 of around 15% among adults, and over 30% among pregnant women in the cities, to around 5% in 2001. It is believed that the Government’s ABC prevention campaign was partly responsible for the decline. However, as treatment was not widely available, the high numbers of AIDS-related deaths also contributed to the reduction in the number of people living with HIV. The third phase has seen the stabilisation of prevalence during 2000-2005, and reports of a slight increase in prevalence from 2006. It is thought that the availability of free antiretroviral drugs may have led to complacency as AIDS is no longer an immediate death sentence. Many experts have also speculated that Uganda’s shift in prevention policy away from ABC towards US-backed ‘abstinence-only’ programmes may also be responsible for the increase.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
NEWS: Children ask for more HIV funding
Children ask for more HIV funding
Friday, 19th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
CHILDREN n in northern Uganda have petitioned Government to increase funding for children living with HIV/AIDS and those born by mothers under the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of AIDS programme. They said many children and mothers had died because of lack of access to HIV/AIDS services in the villages. “The Government should ensure full integration of PMTCT services in the reproductive health system,” the children’s representative, Winfred Olanyo-Jok, said. The children presented a memorandum to the secretary for community services and children’s affairs, Santa Oketta, during the celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child at the Kaunda grounds in Gulu district. Gulu chairman Norbert Mao, in a speech read by Oketta, promised to ensure a safe and protective environment for children. During the celebrations, about 800 children and young adults were tested for HIV in a drive by Save the Children in Uganda, a non-governmental organisation.
Friday, 19th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
CHILDREN n in northern Uganda have petitioned Government to increase funding for children living with HIV/AIDS and those born by mothers under the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of AIDS programme. They said many children and mothers had died because of lack of access to HIV/AIDS services in the villages. “The Government should ensure full integration of PMTCT services in the reproductive health system,” the children’s representative, Winfred Olanyo-Jok, said. The children presented a memorandum to the secretary for community services and children’s affairs, Santa Oketta, during the celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child at the Kaunda grounds in Gulu district. Gulu chairman Norbert Mao, in a speech read by Oketta, promised to ensure a safe and protective environment for children. During the celebrations, about 800 children and young adults were tested for HIV in a drive by Save the Children in Uganda, a non-governmental organisation.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
NEWS: HIV/AIDS- Stigma increases school dropout rate in Gulu
HIV/AIDS- Stigma increases school dropout rate in Gulu
Sunday, 14th June, 2009 from NEW VISION 
Children living with HIV/AIDS receive gifts at the Health Alert-Uganda centre in Gulu during a therapy programme
STIGMATISATION is still a setback in the fight against AIDS, leading to an increase in the school dropout rate of children living with HIV/AIDS. Students say they have been compelled to either drop out of school, leave boarding for day schools or change schools because they are being stigmatised by fellow students. One girl who preferred only to be named as Joan in Senior Three, says she wants to transfer to another school because students at her current school point fingers and gossip about her. This is causing her a lot of psychological trauma. “Sometimes I fear coming to school because of what other students might say about me,” she said. Walter Komakec, the project officer of Health Alert-Uganda, said the project is looking after 1,833 children, 759 girls and 624 boys. Health Alert-Uganda is a non-governmental organisation supporting children living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS in Gulu. Komakec said the number of children living with HIV/AIDS has increased ever since the project started its operations in 2004. He said the organisation had intensified community-based approaches, working with locals at the sub-county, parish and village levels. Peer educators and volunteers move to the villages where they meet families and encourage them to carry out voluntary blood testing, he said. “However, stigmatisation still remains a big challenge. The only way to fight this is through massive sensitisation of the communities to create awareness so that more and more people can go for voluntary counselling and testing,” said Komakec. Joan said with the comments her colleagues at school make, she finds it difficult to concentrate in class. She applauds AVSI, an Italian organisation, for paying her tuition, and the Health Alert-Uganda for offering free counselling, health education, food relief and parental guidance. Joan said her relatives told her that her mother died 17 years ago when she was still a baby. She said her father, who is still alive, neglected her. She lives with her grandmother in Gulu town. The grandmother does not work and has no constant source of income. She says she wants to study hard and become a doctor so that she can treat people living HIV. She says getting ARVs and drugs for treating opportunistic infections is a problem. “My father does not give me any support. I appeal to the Government and non-governmental organisations like Windle Trust and Invisible Children to support me and other children living with HIV/AIDS so we do not feel abandoned.” Another girl, Brenda, 18 in Senior Four, was born with HIV. She said she is an orphan, having lost her parents when she was only one year old. “I moved from Sacred Heart SSS, a boarding school in Gulu, because of stigma from fellow students who after learning of my dilemma, mocked me and uttered awful words as I took my drugs. I am now in a day school. I feel more comfortable because I take my drugs from home,” says Brenda. She wants to be either a nurse or an agricultural engineer. “My mother was a nurse. That is why I also want to become a nurse. I want to help people living with AIDS, especially in the Acholi sub-region. I ask the Government to look at all the children, especially those in northern Uganda, who are living with HIV/AIDS as useful citizens,” she says. Francis, 18, in Senior Six at Koch Goma SSS in Amuru district, says the support being given by Health Alert-Uganda gives him the will to live and instills hope in him. “It makes me think I still have a better future despite living with HIV/AIDS.” He wants to be an accountant or a lawyer. He boasts of practising total abstinence and not searching for a sexual partner yet. He says this will help him live positively and minimise the risk of infecting other people. “I fear that with the meagre resources my father gets from his peasant farming, I might not achieve my dreams. ”His father cannot afford to pay her school fees of sh100,000 a term. “I am being offered free education at Koch Goma SSS. The school is willing to take me on until Senior Six. Who will sponsor me at the university?” Francis wonders. The Health Alert-Uganda programme officer, Jennifer Opoka, says the challenges the organisation faces in fighting HIV include: low male involvement, stigma, discrimination and limited community involvement in caring for children living with AIDS. She says Save the Children Denmark, through Save the Children Uganda, provides funding to the projects. She adds: “The projects aim at promoting positive living with improved care to children living with AIDS. Others are to prepare the children for disclosure, strengthen capacity of Health Alert in Uganda and to map out locations of all the children to enable facilitation.” Health Alert is a six-year-old organisation in Gulu Municipality that is supporting 1,833 children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Sunday, 14th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
Children living with HIV/AIDS receive gifts at the Health Alert-Uganda centre in Gulu during a therapy programmeSTIGMATISATION is still a setback in the fight against AIDS, leading to an increase in the school dropout rate of children living with HIV/AIDS. Students say they have been compelled to either drop out of school, leave boarding for day schools or change schools because they are being stigmatised by fellow students. One girl who preferred only to be named as Joan in Senior Three, says she wants to transfer to another school because students at her current school point fingers and gossip about her. This is causing her a lot of psychological trauma. “Sometimes I fear coming to school because of what other students might say about me,” she said. Walter Komakec, the project officer of Health Alert-Uganda, said the project is looking after 1,833 children, 759 girls and 624 boys. Health Alert-Uganda is a non-governmental organisation supporting children living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS in Gulu. Komakec said the number of children living with HIV/AIDS has increased ever since the project started its operations in 2004. He said the organisation had intensified community-based approaches, working with locals at the sub-county, parish and village levels. Peer educators and volunteers move to the villages where they meet families and encourage them to carry out voluntary blood testing, he said. “However, stigmatisation still remains a big challenge. The only way to fight this is through massive sensitisation of the communities to create awareness so that more and more people can go for voluntary counselling and testing,” said Komakec. Joan said with the comments her colleagues at school make, she finds it difficult to concentrate in class. She applauds AVSI, an Italian organisation, for paying her tuition, and the Health Alert-Uganda for offering free counselling, health education, food relief and parental guidance. Joan said her relatives told her that her mother died 17 years ago when she was still a baby. She said her father, who is still alive, neglected her. She lives with her grandmother in Gulu town. The grandmother does not work and has no constant source of income. She says she wants to study hard and become a doctor so that she can treat people living HIV. She says getting ARVs and drugs for treating opportunistic infections is a problem. “My father does not give me any support. I appeal to the Government and non-governmental organisations like Windle Trust and Invisible Children to support me and other children living with HIV/AIDS so we do not feel abandoned.” Another girl, Brenda, 18 in Senior Four, was born with HIV. She said she is an orphan, having lost her parents when she was only one year old. “I moved from Sacred Heart SSS, a boarding school in Gulu, because of stigma from fellow students who after learning of my dilemma, mocked me and uttered awful words as I took my drugs. I am now in a day school. I feel more comfortable because I take my drugs from home,” says Brenda. She wants to be either a nurse or an agricultural engineer. “My mother was a nurse. That is why I also want to become a nurse. I want to help people living with AIDS, especially in the Acholi sub-region. I ask the Government to look at all the children, especially those in northern Uganda, who are living with HIV/AIDS as useful citizens,” she says. Francis, 18, in Senior Six at Koch Goma SSS in Amuru district, says the support being given by Health Alert-Uganda gives him the will to live and instills hope in him. “It makes me think I still have a better future despite living with HIV/AIDS.” He wants to be an accountant or a lawyer. He boasts of practising total abstinence and not searching for a sexual partner yet. He says this will help him live positively and minimise the risk of infecting other people. “I fear that with the meagre resources my father gets from his peasant farming, I might not achieve my dreams. ”His father cannot afford to pay her school fees of sh100,000 a term. “I am being offered free education at Koch Goma SSS. The school is willing to take me on until Senior Six. Who will sponsor me at the university?” Francis wonders. The Health Alert-Uganda programme officer, Jennifer Opoka, says the challenges the organisation faces in fighting HIV include: low male involvement, stigma, discrimination and limited community involvement in caring for children living with AIDS. She says Save the Children Denmark, through Save the Children Uganda, provides funding to the projects. She adds: “The projects aim at promoting positive living with improved care to children living with AIDS. Others are to prepare the children for disclosure, strengthen capacity of Health Alert in Uganda and to map out locations of all the children to enable facilitation.” Health Alert is a six-year-old organisation in Gulu Municipality that is supporting 1,833 children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
NEWS: A crunch on HIV/Aids budgets in sub-saharan Africa
A crunch on HIV/Aids budgets in sub-saharan Africa
Thursday, June 18, 2009 from MONITOR ONLINE
International donors and African governments are likely to cut health budgets due to the global financial crisis according to a recent Inter Press Service (IPS) report. Health experts fear that increasing unemployment and poverty will lead to less food security and quality of nutrition, which will in turn put more stress on already weak health systems.The IPS report indicates that Tanzania was the first sub-Saharan country to announce a 25 per cent cut of its annual HIV/Aids budget. It goes on to reveal, “The South African government has indicated that large private firms, especially mining companies, are likely to cut their HIV prevention programmes affecting thousands of employees and their families. Even worse, Botswana’s presidential spokesperson, Jeff Ramsay, recently announced that the government will not be able to include new patients in its free antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programme from 2016 onwards because it does not have sufficient funds to expand the programme.Researchers estimate the negative impact of this crisis will affect 70 per cent of people on ARV treatment in Africa within the next twelve months.”IPS further reported, “Even international donor organisations have started feeling the financial crunch. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria recently announced it is at least $4 billion short of the money needed to continue funding essential HIV, TB and malaria services in 2010. The coalition believes there is a $10.7 billion funding gap for regional implementation of the Global Plan to Stop TB alone.”Nowhere however did the rather lengthy report particularly refer to Uganda as one of the countries likely to cut its spending on HIV/Aids support. Dr. Penninah Itung Director of Uganda Cares, one of the leading Aids support organisations in Uganda, said they are still assured of further funding from American AIDS Health Care. “We are not aware of such a thing as a cut in our promised funding,” she said when contacted. “We do expect continued funding.”A number of AIDS and tuberculosis activists from across Sub-Saharan Africa – including ARASA, the South African Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and the Kenyan Collaborative Fund for HIV Treatment Preparedness – have now come together to lobby for continued health financing.
Thursday, June 18, 2009 from MONITOR ONLINE
International donors and African governments are likely to cut health budgets due to the global financial crisis according to a recent Inter Press Service (IPS) report. Health experts fear that increasing unemployment and poverty will lead to less food security and quality of nutrition, which will in turn put more stress on already weak health systems.The IPS report indicates that Tanzania was the first sub-Saharan country to announce a 25 per cent cut of its annual HIV/Aids budget. It goes on to reveal, “The South African government has indicated that large private firms, especially mining companies, are likely to cut their HIV prevention programmes affecting thousands of employees and their families. Even worse, Botswana’s presidential spokesperson, Jeff Ramsay, recently announced that the government will not be able to include new patients in its free antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programme from 2016 onwards because it does not have sufficient funds to expand the programme.Researchers estimate the negative impact of this crisis will affect 70 per cent of people on ARV treatment in Africa within the next twelve months.”IPS further reported, “Even international donor organisations have started feeling the financial crunch. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria recently announced it is at least $4 billion short of the money needed to continue funding essential HIV, TB and malaria services in 2010. The coalition believes there is a $10.7 billion funding gap for regional implementation of the Global Plan to Stop TB alone.”Nowhere however did the rather lengthy report particularly refer to Uganda as one of the countries likely to cut its spending on HIV/Aids support. Dr. Penninah Itung Director of Uganda Cares, one of the leading Aids support organisations in Uganda, said they are still assured of further funding from American AIDS Health Care. “We are not aware of such a thing as a cut in our promised funding,” she said when contacted. “We do expect continued funding.”A number of AIDS and tuberculosis activists from across Sub-Saharan Africa – including ARASA, the South African Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and the Kenyan Collaborative Fund for HIV Treatment Preparedness – have now come together to lobby for continued health financing.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
NEWS: Immunisation campaign extended
Immunisation campaign extended
Friday, 12th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
THE ministry of Health will carry out another round of polio and measles immunisation today in areas that were hit by vaccine shortage during the just-ended three-day national immunisation campaign. Last weekend several parts of the country reported a shortage of vaccines. This left several parents and guardians who had taken their children for immunisation stranded. “We have asked our supervisors countrywide to document sub-counties where some children missed being immunised because of a shortage of the vaccines so that we can deliver them. We shall have a mop-up exercise on Saturday,” said Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the head of the immunisation programme in the health ministry. He said the shortages were mainly in parts of western, central and eastern Uganda. In Lira, Mugyenyi explained, there was apparent shortage where some sub counties had shortages while others were overstocked. This was sorted out through internal redistribution. Mpigi and Nakasongola districts postponed their immunisation campaign from June 12 to June 15. “At the end of the exercise, we shall give all the remaining vaccines to the health centres to enable them immunise any child who could have missed,” Mugyenyi said. “Parents should also continue with routine immunisation of their children instead of relying on national immunisation days or campaigns.” The health ministry, Mugyenyi said, procured 5.8 million doses for the measles vaccine and 8.7 million for polio.
Friday, 12th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
THE ministry of Health will carry out another round of polio and measles immunisation today in areas that were hit by vaccine shortage during the just-ended three-day national immunisation campaign. Last weekend several parts of the country reported a shortage of vaccines. This left several parents and guardians who had taken their children for immunisation stranded. “We have asked our supervisors countrywide to document sub-counties where some children missed being immunised because of a shortage of the vaccines so that we can deliver them. We shall have a mop-up exercise on Saturday,” said Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the head of the immunisation programme in the health ministry. He said the shortages were mainly in parts of western, central and eastern Uganda. In Lira, Mugyenyi explained, there was apparent shortage where some sub counties had shortages while others were overstocked. This was sorted out through internal redistribution. Mpigi and Nakasongola districts postponed their immunisation campaign from June 12 to June 15. “At the end of the exercise, we shall give all the remaining vaccines to the health centres to enable them immunise any child who could have missed,” Mugyenyi said. “Parents should also continue with routine immunisation of their children instead of relying on national immunisation days or campaigns.” The health ministry, Mugyenyi said, procured 5.8 million doses for the measles vaccine and 8.7 million for polio.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
NEWS: Vaccine shortage spoils immunisation exercise
Vaccine shortage spoils immunisation exercise
Monday, 8th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
A nurse immunising a child at Nansana health centre as others wait in the queue on Saturday
SHORTAGES and late delivery of vaccines marred the three-day national polio and measles campaign countrywide as the turn-out was higher than expected. This left many parents and children stranded at the immunisation centres. In Kampala district, a number of immunisation centres, such as Ntinda, reported they had run out of stocks, especially of measles vaccines. Officials at Kiswa health centre in Bugolobi, which was the distribution centre for the area, confirmed the shortage in Ntinda, which had been restocked by yesterday morning. At Kiyumba immunisation centre in Makindye Division, the vaccines had run out by Sunday noon. The parents and guardians waited in vain for their children to be immunised. When The New Vision visited the centre yesterday afternoon it was closed. In some areas of Lira district, children who turned up on Sunday also went home without being served because the stocks were depleted. Health officials in Aromo and Amugo sub-counties have extended the exercise, which was supposed to end yesterday, up to today. “The fridges had technical problems, which forced the distributors to return the vaccines to the main store in Lira. The distribution for the two sub-counties is now done from Lira,” said Dr. Peter Kusolo, the Lira district health officer, adding that technicians were repairing the fridges. Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the head of the immunisation programme, attributed the shortage of vaccines to the overwhelming numbers. “In Kampala, we advised the health workers in areas which had shortages to pick some from those which had excess vaccines,” he said. Trucks were sent out at night to replenish districts that had reported stock-outs, he added. The health ministry had planned to immunise children between 0 and five years (for polio) and between nine months and four years (for measles). It aimed at immunising 4.7 million children against measles and 6.2 million against polio. But some parents turned up with children beyond the age brackets. This interfered with the ministry’s arrangements. The exact number of children who were immunised will be out later this week. Meanwhile, in Mubende district, officials rushed to Bukuya sub-county on Sunday, following reports that a group of people was moving from house to house, telling residents not to take their children for immunisation arguing that it would harm them. “We found out that these were the local leaders. Instead of arresting them, we ordered them to mobilise the people to take their children and they obliged,” said Stephen Nsubuga Bewaayo, the resident district commissioner. He said the highest number of culprits was in Makokoto parish, bordering Mubende and Mityana districts. “In this parish, the most affected villages were Kanoga, Kuzimu and Kyabakadde. The parents were stubbornly resisting, having heard from critics that the vaccines would harm their children,” Bewaayo said.
Monday, 8th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
A nurse immunising a child at Nansana health centre as others wait in the queue on SaturdaySHORTAGES and late delivery of vaccines marred the three-day national polio and measles campaign countrywide as the turn-out was higher than expected. This left many parents and children stranded at the immunisation centres. In Kampala district, a number of immunisation centres, such as Ntinda, reported they had run out of stocks, especially of measles vaccines. Officials at Kiswa health centre in Bugolobi, which was the distribution centre for the area, confirmed the shortage in Ntinda, which had been restocked by yesterday morning. At Kiyumba immunisation centre in Makindye Division, the vaccines had run out by Sunday noon. The parents and guardians waited in vain for their children to be immunised. When The New Vision visited the centre yesterday afternoon it was closed. In some areas of Lira district, children who turned up on Sunday also went home without being served because the stocks were depleted. Health officials in Aromo and Amugo sub-counties have extended the exercise, which was supposed to end yesterday, up to today. “The fridges had technical problems, which forced the distributors to return the vaccines to the main store in Lira. The distribution for the two sub-counties is now done from Lira,” said Dr. Peter Kusolo, the Lira district health officer, adding that technicians were repairing the fridges. Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the head of the immunisation programme, attributed the shortage of vaccines to the overwhelming numbers. “In Kampala, we advised the health workers in areas which had shortages to pick some from those which had excess vaccines,” he said. Trucks were sent out at night to replenish districts that had reported stock-outs, he added. The health ministry had planned to immunise children between 0 and five years (for polio) and between nine months and four years (for measles). It aimed at immunising 4.7 million children against measles and 6.2 million against polio. But some parents turned up with children beyond the age brackets. This interfered with the ministry’s arrangements. The exact number of children who were immunised will be out later this week. Meanwhile, in Mubende district, officials rushed to Bukuya sub-county on Sunday, following reports that a group of people was moving from house to house, telling residents not to take their children for immunisation arguing that it would harm them. “We found out that these were the local leaders. Instead of arresting them, we ordered them to mobilise the people to take their children and they obliged,” said Stephen Nsubuga Bewaayo, the resident district commissioner. He said the highest number of culprits was in Makokoto parish, bordering Mubende and Mityana districts. “In this parish, the most affected villages were Kanoga, Kuzimu and Kyabakadde. The parents were stubbornly resisting, having heard from critics that the vaccines would harm their children,” Bewaayo said.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
NEWS: Thousands rush for polio, measles immunisation
Thousands rush for polio, measles immunisation
Sunday, 7th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
Mothers lining up as they wait to have their children immunised at Wakiso health centre on Saturday
THOUSANDS of parents countrywide over the weekend jammed immunisation centres rushed their children for immunisation against polio and measles. “The turn-up on day one was overwhelming. Districts with a high turn-up include Bukedea, Mbale, Sironko, Kaliro, Kampala and Wakiso. Some have even asked for more vaccines,” said Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the head of the immunisation programme in the health ministry. He explained that due to poor distribution, there was a shortage of vaccines in some areas on the first day. “The measles vaccine was a crowd puller. Although the vaccine was to be administered to children between nine months and four years, some above this age were immunised and this is not bad,” Mugyenyi said. “We had given an equal amount of vaccines to all sub-counties. After the high turn-up in some areas, we had to redistribute.” Mugyenyi appealed to heads of nursery schools to ensure that pupils are immunised in the exercise that ends today. In Kampala, health officers had difficulty in transporting the vaccines, resulted into the late delivery in some centres. The district plans to have 310,000 children vaccinated. “On Thursday and Friday, we carried out immunisation in the schools. We are continuing with the exercise today,” said Joseph Senzoga, the in-charge of disease surveillance and response. Most of the immunisation centres in Wakiso district visited on Saturday registered more than half of the anticipated numbers. The district is targeting 240,000 children. The local leaders warned residents against shunning the exercise. The district director for health services, Emmanuel Mukasa, said: “In 2003, we designed a district ordinance on immunisation. Any visitor or resident found disrupting immunisation exercises faces the law. They can be imprisoned up to six years or pay a fine of sh1m.” He added that in 2008, about 8,000 children in Wakiso were not immunised. Touring the immunisation centres in Wakiso on Saturday, the World Health Organisation country representative, Joaquim Saweka, said: “Polio and measles do not respect borders. With these efforts, we are confident Wakiso will be one of the districts with a high immunisation turn-up. ” In Kasese district, some areas like Karusandara sub-county that registered a slow response in March had overwhelming numbers in the ongoing immunisation. Immunisation kicked off on Saturday with a low turn-up, but the trend changed in the afternoon. “We expect good results. The high turn up is because politicians joined the immunisation campaign,” said Dr. Peter Mukobi, the Kasese health officer. Several parents from the DR Congo crossed into Uganda to have their children immunised in Kasese and Kanungu districts. “We have received about 30 Congolese on day one, but hope to get many of them before we conclude the programme,” Josephine Kasya, the district chairperson, said. The Uganda Red Cross coordinator for Rukungiri and Kanungu districts, Benjamin Cadet, said some Congolese had walked for over 50km to immunise their children. The relief agency deployed 200 volunteers in all the 508 immunisation posts in Kanungu district to assist the health workers. The Uganda Red Cross is supporting the Government in mobilising the public and transporting the vaccines in 15 districts for measles and 11 districts for polio. In Mityana, the Buganda Kingdom’s Ssingo county chief, Mukwenda Stanley Kijjambu, warned detractors against misleading the public about the immunisation. Kijjambu on Friday accused some people of politicising the exercise. The district health officer, Dr. Fred Lwasampijja, said the turn-up on Saturday was good. “We expect to have at least 90% of the children immunised.” Reported by Anthony Bugembe, John Nzinjah, Caleb Bahikaho and Luke Kagiri
Sunday, 7th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
Mothers lining up as they wait to have their children immunised at Wakiso health centre on Saturday
THOUSANDS of parents countrywide over the weekend jammed immunisation centres rushed their children for immunisation against polio and measles. “The turn-up on day one was overwhelming. Districts with a high turn-up include Bukedea, Mbale, Sironko, Kaliro, Kampala and Wakiso. Some have even asked for more vaccines,” said Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, the head of the immunisation programme in the health ministry. He explained that due to poor distribution, there was a shortage of vaccines in some areas on the first day. “The measles vaccine was a crowd puller. Although the vaccine was to be administered to children between nine months and four years, some above this age were immunised and this is not bad,” Mugyenyi said. “We had given an equal amount of vaccines to all sub-counties. After the high turn-up in some areas, we had to redistribute.” Mugyenyi appealed to heads of nursery schools to ensure that pupils are immunised in the exercise that ends today. In Kampala, health officers had difficulty in transporting the vaccines, resulted into the late delivery in some centres. The district plans to have 310,000 children vaccinated. “On Thursday and Friday, we carried out immunisation in the schools. We are continuing with the exercise today,” said Joseph Senzoga, the in-charge of disease surveillance and response. Most of the immunisation centres in Wakiso district visited on Saturday registered more than half of the anticipated numbers. The district is targeting 240,000 children. The local leaders warned residents against shunning the exercise. The district director for health services, Emmanuel Mukasa, said: “In 2003, we designed a district ordinance on immunisation. Any visitor or resident found disrupting immunisation exercises faces the law. They can be imprisoned up to six years or pay a fine of sh1m.” He added that in 2008, about 8,000 children in Wakiso were not immunised. Touring the immunisation centres in Wakiso on Saturday, the World Health Organisation country representative, Joaquim Saweka, said: “Polio and measles do not respect borders. With these efforts, we are confident Wakiso will be one of the districts with a high immunisation turn-up. ” In Kasese district, some areas like Karusandara sub-county that registered a slow response in March had overwhelming numbers in the ongoing immunisation. Immunisation kicked off on Saturday with a low turn-up, but the trend changed in the afternoon. “We expect good results. The high turn up is because politicians joined the immunisation campaign,” said Dr. Peter Mukobi, the Kasese health officer. Several parents from the DR Congo crossed into Uganda to have their children immunised in Kasese and Kanungu districts. “We have received about 30 Congolese on day one, but hope to get many of them before we conclude the programme,” Josephine Kasya, the district chairperson, said. The Uganda Red Cross coordinator for Rukungiri and Kanungu districts, Benjamin Cadet, said some Congolese had walked for over 50km to immunise their children. The relief agency deployed 200 volunteers in all the 508 immunisation posts in Kanungu district to assist the health workers. The Uganda Red Cross is supporting the Government in mobilising the public and transporting the vaccines in 15 districts for measles and 11 districts for polio. In Mityana, the Buganda Kingdom’s Ssingo county chief, Mukwenda Stanley Kijjambu, warned detractors against misleading the public about the immunisation. Kijjambu on Friday accused some people of politicising the exercise. The district health officer, Dr. Fred Lwasampijja, said the turn-up on Saturday was good. “We expect to have at least 90% of the children immunised.” Reported by Anthony Bugembe, John Nzinjah, Caleb Bahikaho and Luke Kagiri
Saturday, June 6, 2009
NEWS: New study faults Uganda government on HIV resource allocation
New study faults Uganda government on HIV resource allocation
Saturday, June 6, 2009 from MONITOR ONLINE
After over 15 years and billions of shillings spent on promoting ABC, Uganda has been named as one of the countries which is committing little resources on national HIV prevention campaigns, writes Peter NyanziUganda is one of the countries where scarce resources are being spent on national HIV/Aids prevention campaigns that do not reach the people most at risk of infection, a new research has shown. The report, which was released at the end of May, decries a lack of an evidence-based approach to HIV/Aids, adding that there is a mismatch between resources and infection rates because prevention policies and programmes are not aligned and targeted to the populations in most need.The study, titled, “The Analysis of Prevention Response and Modes of Transmission," was carried out between 2007 and 2008 by Unaids and the World Bank in partnership with the Uganda Aids Commission; to find out how and where most HIV/Aids infections were occurring and whether existing prevention efforts and expenditure matched these findings. “The synthesis shows a mismatch between the epidemiology, policies and programmes and the resource allocation,” the report reads in part. “Despite the evidence of the risk factors and drivers of the epidemic, there are no policies targeting most at risk populations (MARPs), circumcision and the contextual factors.” Over the past 15 years, HIV/Aids prevention campaigns have been based on the assumption that young, single people who engaged in casual sex were most at risk of infection. Over the years, Uganda has spent billions promoting the ABC model (Abstain, Be faithful to one sexual partner and Condom use) but the study found that 43 per cent of infections still occurred among those who had multiple sex partners besides their regular partners. The report recommends “a re-alignment of prevention efforts to where the new infections are occurring and to the populations most in need,” adding that the focus of HIV/Aids spending should be on prevention campaigns aimed at married people or those in long-term relationships. It says only 31 per cent of the $249 million resource envelope used to fight HIV/Aids went to prevention strategies while the bulk of the funding (53 per cent) went towards care and treatment. About 1.5 million Ugandans are said to be HIV/Aids positive. Programme management and mitigation each took 8 per cent.Ms Debrework Zewdie, the director of the World Bank's Global HIV/Aids Unit, noted that the current global economic downturn made it more important than ever to get the most impact out of investments in HIV/Aids prevention. According to the report, the previously heralded decline in prevalence from a peak of 18 per cent in 1992 to 6.1 in 2002 ended and that there is a stabilisation of prevalence between 6.1 and 6.5 per cent in some antenatal testing sites and even a rise in others.This is accompanied by “a deterioration in behavioral indicators” especially an increase in multiple concurrent partnerships. There has also been a shift in the epidemic from single casual relationships to long term stable relationships. It says 43 per cent of new HIV/Aids infections were among monogamous relationships while 46 per cent are among persons reporting multiple partnerships. Commercial sex workers, their clients and partners of clients contribute 10 per cent of new infections. The report also confirms that there has been a shift in concentration of the epidemic from younger to older individuals with the highest prevalence for men (9.9 per cent) being among 35-39 year olds, while for women (12 per cent) it is among 30-34 year olds. Furthermore, the high burden of herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) of 44 per cent has fueled the epidemic.The report recommends the establishment of clearer policies, standards and guidelines to improve HIV counseling and testing services, information, education and communication (IEC), male circumcision and behaviour change interventions for married and long-term sexual partners, people living with HIV and at-risk groups. The research was also carried out in Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique and Lesotho where it was also revealed that most new infections were occurring because people were continuing to have more than one partner at a time, both before and during marriage.
Saturday, June 6, 2009 from MONITOR ONLINE
After over 15 years and billions of shillings spent on promoting ABC, Uganda has been named as one of the countries which is committing little resources on national HIV prevention campaigns, writes Peter NyanziUganda is one of the countries where scarce resources are being spent on national HIV/Aids prevention campaigns that do not reach the people most at risk of infection, a new research has shown. The report, which was released at the end of May, decries a lack of an evidence-based approach to HIV/Aids, adding that there is a mismatch between resources and infection rates because prevention policies and programmes are not aligned and targeted to the populations in most need.The study, titled, “The Analysis of Prevention Response and Modes of Transmission," was carried out between 2007 and 2008 by Unaids and the World Bank in partnership with the Uganda Aids Commission; to find out how and where most HIV/Aids infections were occurring and whether existing prevention efforts and expenditure matched these findings. “The synthesis shows a mismatch between the epidemiology, policies and programmes and the resource allocation,” the report reads in part. “Despite the evidence of the risk factors and drivers of the epidemic, there are no policies targeting most at risk populations (MARPs), circumcision and the contextual factors.” Over the past 15 years, HIV/Aids prevention campaigns have been based on the assumption that young, single people who engaged in casual sex were most at risk of infection. Over the years, Uganda has spent billions promoting the ABC model (Abstain, Be faithful to one sexual partner and Condom use) but the study found that 43 per cent of infections still occurred among those who had multiple sex partners besides their regular partners. The report recommends “a re-alignment of prevention efforts to where the new infections are occurring and to the populations most in need,” adding that the focus of HIV/Aids spending should be on prevention campaigns aimed at married people or those in long-term relationships. It says only 31 per cent of the $249 million resource envelope used to fight HIV/Aids went to prevention strategies while the bulk of the funding (53 per cent) went towards care and treatment. About 1.5 million Ugandans are said to be HIV/Aids positive. Programme management and mitigation each took 8 per cent.Ms Debrework Zewdie, the director of the World Bank's Global HIV/Aids Unit, noted that the current global economic downturn made it more important than ever to get the most impact out of investments in HIV/Aids prevention. According to the report, the previously heralded decline in prevalence from a peak of 18 per cent in 1992 to 6.1 in 2002 ended and that there is a stabilisation of prevalence between 6.1 and 6.5 per cent in some antenatal testing sites and even a rise in others.This is accompanied by “a deterioration in behavioral indicators” especially an increase in multiple concurrent partnerships. There has also been a shift in the epidemic from single casual relationships to long term stable relationships. It says 43 per cent of new HIV/Aids infections were among monogamous relationships while 46 per cent are among persons reporting multiple partnerships. Commercial sex workers, their clients and partners of clients contribute 10 per cent of new infections. The report also confirms that there has been a shift in concentration of the epidemic from younger to older individuals with the highest prevalence for men (9.9 per cent) being among 35-39 year olds, while for women (12 per cent) it is among 30-34 year olds. Furthermore, the high burden of herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) of 44 per cent has fueled the epidemic.The report recommends the establishment of clearer policies, standards and guidelines to improve HIV counseling and testing services, information, education and communication (IEC), male circumcision and behaviour change interventions for married and long-term sexual partners, people living with HIV and at-risk groups. The research was also carried out in Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique and Lesotho where it was also revealed that most new infections were occurring because people were continuing to have more than one partner at a time, both before and during marriage.
Friday, June 5, 2009
NEWS: Uganda 3rd most corrupt — report
Uganda 3rd most corrupt — report
Thursday, 4th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
UGANDA is ranked among the countries most affected by petty bribe, according to the 2009 Global Corruption Barometer of Transparency International, an international watchdog. A total of 55% of Ugandan respondents said they or anyone living in their household paid a bribe in the past 12 months. Uganda scores the third-highest among 69 countries in Asia, America, the Middle East, Europe and Africa sampled. It shares the third place with Cameroon. Liberia tops the list, with 87% of respondents saying they paid a bribe in the past year, followed by Sierra Leone (62%). The judiciary is perceived as the most corrupt by Ugandans, with 36% identifying it as the single most corrupt institution in the country, closely followed by public officials and civil servants (34%). The media and the private sector are perceived the least corrupt, with 1% and 4% respectively marking it as topping the list of corrupt institutions. Ordinary people, in Africa and the rest of the world, do not feel empowered to speak out about corruption, the survey found. “Three quarters of all the people who reported paying bribes do not file a formal complaint,” says the just released report. “About half of bribery victims interviewed did not see existing complaint mechanisms as efficient.” In Uganda, less than half – or 48% - considered the Government’s actions in the fight against corruption as effective. However, corruption matters to Ugandans. More than 64% reported that they would be willing to pay more to buy from a ‘corruption-free’ company, among the highest in the world. “The message to the private sector from consumers is clear: being clean pays off,” says the report. “Not only does clean business create a level playing field while supporting long-term growth and productivity, it attracts customers.” Worldwide, bribery has gone up, particularly in the Police and the judiciary, Transparency International concludes. People who reported paying a bribe to court officials went up from 8% to 14% in the last 3 years. In addition, 15% of all respondents who contacted land authorities in the 12 months prior to the survey reported paying a bribe. “This figure confirms that corruption in the land management sector is a widespread problem that has been increasingly recognised as a government challenge,” the report notes.
Thursday, 4th June, 2009 from NEW VISION
UGANDA is ranked among the countries most affected by petty bribe, according to the 2009 Global Corruption Barometer of Transparency International, an international watchdog. A total of 55% of Ugandan respondents said they or anyone living in their household paid a bribe in the past 12 months. Uganda scores the third-highest among 69 countries in Asia, America, the Middle East, Europe and Africa sampled. It shares the third place with Cameroon. Liberia tops the list, with 87% of respondents saying they paid a bribe in the past year, followed by Sierra Leone (62%). The judiciary is perceived as the most corrupt by Ugandans, with 36% identifying it as the single most corrupt institution in the country, closely followed by public officials and civil servants (34%). The media and the private sector are perceived the least corrupt, with 1% and 4% respectively marking it as topping the list of corrupt institutions. Ordinary people, in Africa and the rest of the world, do not feel empowered to speak out about corruption, the survey found. “Three quarters of all the people who reported paying bribes do not file a formal complaint,” says the just released report. “About half of bribery victims interviewed did not see existing complaint mechanisms as efficient.” In Uganda, less than half – or 48% - considered the Government’s actions in the fight against corruption as effective. However, corruption matters to Ugandans. More than 64% reported that they would be willing to pay more to buy from a ‘corruption-free’ company, among the highest in the world. “The message to the private sector from consumers is clear: being clean pays off,” says the report. “Not only does clean business create a level playing field while supporting long-term growth and productivity, it attracts customers.” Worldwide, bribery has gone up, particularly in the Police and the judiciary, Transparency International concludes. People who reported paying a bribe to court officials went up from 8% to 14% in the last 3 years. In addition, 15% of all respondents who contacted land authorities in the 12 months prior to the survey reported paying a bribe. “This figure confirms that corruption in the land management sector is a widespread problem that has been increasingly recognised as a government challenge,” the report notes.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
NEWS: Uganda 17th most peaceful in Africa
Uganda 17th most peaceful in Africa
Tuesday, 2nd June, 2009 from NEW VISION
UGANDA’s state of ‘peacefulness’ is still low, according to a report released by the Institute for Economics and Peace yesterday. The Global Peace Index (GPI) report released at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, shows that out of the 144 countries surveyed, Uganda ranked at position 103. In the league of Africa countries, Uganda ranks 17th out of 31 countries sampled. The most peaceful countries in Africa are Botswana, Malawi, Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique. Tanzania leads the pack in East Africa being the 59th overall globally and seventh in the region. Post-genocide Rwanda, too, beats Uganda in the ranking, emerging 86th overall and 13th on the continent. Kenya wallows on the 113th position internationally and lies in the 19th in Africa. New Zealand ranked as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Norway. Rounding out the top five were Iceland in the the fourth place and Austria in the fifth position. Overall, the GPI revealed that small, stable and democratic countries ranked highest of the top 20 countries are in western and central Europe. Iraq was again the world’s least peaceful country in 2008, remaining in 144th position. Afghanistan, Somalia, Israel and Sudan were the next least peaceful, ranking 143rd to 140th respectively. Bosnia and Herzegovina was the biggest riser, up 23 places to 50th position this year, while Madagascar saw the biggest fall in ranking (30 places) amid mounting political instability and violent demonstrations. The Index defines peace as “the absence of violence,” and looks at 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators of external and internal measures of peacefulness. Internally, these include homicides, the percentage of the population in jail, the availability of guns, and the level of organised crime. External indicators include the size of the military, exports and imports of arms, battlefield deaths, UN peacekeeping contributions and relations with neighbouring states. Uganda in the recent past had a spate of brutal murders and rape, aggravated robbery, human sacrifice, violent demonstrations and conmen fleecing people. Thousands of people are in detention. The country is still grappling with the disarmament programme in the Karamoja region while its porous borders allow for illegal guns from Sudan, Somalia and Kenya to enter. The guns are mainly used for cattle rustling. The Police investigations have in the past also incriminated some security operatives as accomplices in armed robberies. However, internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja declined to comment on the report arguing he could not respond to an examination he did not set. “I am in charge and I know you are operating in a secure place. I would be concerned if they said you are operating in an insecure environment,” Kivejinja said in a telephone interview. “Peace can be measured and valued in economic terms,” Clyde McConaghy, president of the GPI, said. “There is a correlation between the economic crisis and the decline in peace. This confirms that there is a real-world economic value for peace,” McConaghy said.
Tuesday, 2nd June, 2009 from NEW VISION
UGANDA’s state of ‘peacefulness’ is still low, according to a report released by the Institute for Economics and Peace yesterday. The Global Peace Index (GPI) report released at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, shows that out of the 144 countries surveyed, Uganda ranked at position 103. In the league of Africa countries, Uganda ranks 17th out of 31 countries sampled. The most peaceful countries in Africa are Botswana, Malawi, Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique. Tanzania leads the pack in East Africa being the 59th overall globally and seventh in the region. Post-genocide Rwanda, too, beats Uganda in the ranking, emerging 86th overall and 13th on the continent. Kenya wallows on the 113th position internationally and lies in the 19th in Africa. New Zealand ranked as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Norway. Rounding out the top five were Iceland in the the fourth place and Austria in the fifth position. Overall, the GPI revealed that small, stable and democratic countries ranked highest of the top 20 countries are in western and central Europe. Iraq was again the world’s least peaceful country in 2008, remaining in 144th position. Afghanistan, Somalia, Israel and Sudan were the next least peaceful, ranking 143rd to 140th respectively. Bosnia and Herzegovina was the biggest riser, up 23 places to 50th position this year, while Madagascar saw the biggest fall in ranking (30 places) amid mounting political instability and violent demonstrations. The Index defines peace as “the absence of violence,” and looks at 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators of external and internal measures of peacefulness. Internally, these include homicides, the percentage of the population in jail, the availability of guns, and the level of organised crime. External indicators include the size of the military, exports and imports of arms, battlefield deaths, UN peacekeeping contributions and relations with neighbouring states. Uganda in the recent past had a spate of brutal murders and rape, aggravated robbery, human sacrifice, violent demonstrations and conmen fleecing people. Thousands of people are in detention. The country is still grappling with the disarmament programme in the Karamoja region while its porous borders allow for illegal guns from Sudan, Somalia and Kenya to enter. The guns are mainly used for cattle rustling. The Police investigations have in the past also incriminated some security operatives as accomplices in armed robberies. However, internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja declined to comment on the report arguing he could not respond to an examination he did not set. “I am in charge and I know you are operating in a secure place. I would be concerned if they said you are operating in an insecure environment,” Kivejinja said in a telephone interview. “Peace can be measured and valued in economic terms,” Clyde McConaghy, president of the GPI, said. “There is a correlation between the economic crisis and the decline in peace. This confirms that there is a real-world economic value for peace,” McConaghy said.
Monday, June 1, 2009
NEWS: Christians hold joint prayers to end child sacrifice
Christians hold joint prayers to end child sacrifice
June 2, 2009 from MONITOR ONLINE
MasakaChristians in Masaka District have held joint prayers to end child sacrifice, ritual murder, sodomy and lesbianism. The prayers, which were sponsored by World Vision, a Christian charity organisation, took place at Kijjabwemi Church of Uganda in Masaka Municipality on Sunday. Reverend Canon Nkambo Mugerwa of Kijjabwemi Archdeaconry led the prayers which were also attended by Monsignor Joseph Kato Ssempungu, the Vicar General of Masaka Diocese, Reverend Male Ssekabi of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Masaka, and several pastors of Pentecostal churches. The function attracted hundreds of Christians from the neighbouring districts of Lyantonde, Rakai, Ssembabule, and Kalangala.World Vision Regional Programme Manager Joel Kisubi said for many years, his organisation has been holding the Global Day of Prayer and that just as the Christians were praying at Kijjabwemi, similar prayers were being conducted in 217 countries across the world under the theme: “Repentance and Prayer”. “We are an NGO that focuses on children and their well-being,” Mr Kisubi said. “But we must supplement our physical efforts with prayers because God has the greatest power to protect the children.”Monsignor Kato later told Daily Monitor in a private interview that he could not blame the Police alone for failing to arrest those involved in child sacrifice. “All of us including Police are fighting the same evil practice,” he said.
June 2, 2009 from MONITOR ONLINE
MasakaChristians in Masaka District have held joint prayers to end child sacrifice, ritual murder, sodomy and lesbianism. The prayers, which were sponsored by World Vision, a Christian charity organisation, took place at Kijjabwemi Church of Uganda in Masaka Municipality on Sunday. Reverend Canon Nkambo Mugerwa of Kijjabwemi Archdeaconry led the prayers which were also attended by Monsignor Joseph Kato Ssempungu, the Vicar General of Masaka Diocese, Reverend Male Ssekabi of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Masaka, and several pastors of Pentecostal churches. The function attracted hundreds of Christians from the neighbouring districts of Lyantonde, Rakai, Ssembabule, and Kalangala.World Vision Regional Programme Manager Joel Kisubi said for many years, his organisation has been holding the Global Day of Prayer and that just as the Christians were praying at Kijjabwemi, similar prayers were being conducted in 217 countries across the world under the theme: “Repentance and Prayer”. “We are an NGO that focuses on children and their well-being,” Mr Kisubi said. “But we must supplement our physical efforts with prayers because God has the greatest power to protect the children.”Monsignor Kato later told Daily Monitor in a private interview that he could not blame the Police alone for failing to arrest those involved in child sacrifice. “All of us including Police are fighting the same evil practice,” he said.
NEWS: Six million kids to get polio vaccine
Six million kids to get polio vaccine
Monday, 1st June, 2009 from NEW VISION
THE Government plans to immunise six million children against polio and measles, the health ministry has said. The immunisation manager, Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, said children under the age of five would be immunised from Saturday to Monday. “We have targeted to cover 95% of the country. This would be a good step in fighting polio and measles.” Mugyenyi was addressing journalists at Hotel Africana in Kampala yesterday. He said the sh11b exercise is funded by Unicef, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Red Cross and the Government. A WHO official, William Mbabazi, said 10 paralytic polio cases had been recently confirmed in Uganda. He explained that eight cases were detected in Amuru and two in Moyo and Pader districts. Mbabazi expressed concern over the fact that 2,000 polio cases were confirmed countrywide. The assistant commissioner in-charge of health, Paul Kagwa, said they had scaled up the mobilisation to encourage the public to support the campaign. He added that political, religious and cultural leaders would be sensitised about the exercise. Kagwa warned that parents who sabotage the campaign would be prosecuted. He explained that polio had been imported from the DR Congo and Southern Sudan as a result of cross-border movements. Uganda had been declared free of polio since 1996 and was certified in October 2006.
Monday, 1st June, 2009 from NEW VISION
THE Government plans to immunise six million children against polio and measles, the health ministry has said. The immunisation manager, Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, said children under the age of five would be immunised from Saturday to Monday. “We have targeted to cover 95% of the country. This would be a good step in fighting polio and measles.” Mugyenyi was addressing journalists at Hotel Africana in Kampala yesterday. He said the sh11b exercise is funded by Unicef, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Red Cross and the Government. A WHO official, William Mbabazi, said 10 paralytic polio cases had been recently confirmed in Uganda. He explained that eight cases were detected in Amuru and two in Moyo and Pader districts. Mbabazi expressed concern over the fact that 2,000 polio cases were confirmed countrywide. The assistant commissioner in-charge of health, Paul Kagwa, said they had scaled up the mobilisation to encourage the public to support the campaign. He added that political, religious and cultural leaders would be sensitised about the exercise. Kagwa warned that parents who sabotage the campaign would be prosecuted. He explained that polio had been imported from the DR Congo and Southern Sudan as a result of cross-border movements. Uganda had been declared free of polio since 1996 and was certified in October 2006.
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