Government Urged To Increase Funding For Sexual Reproductive Health Services

Posted by: lukwago J in Health September 6, 2021

The Executive Director of Reproductive Health Uganda has urged government to expedite on increasing funding for sexual and reproductive health services despite covid 19 pandemic stress on the economy.

Jackson Chekweko says there is inadequate resources for sexual and reproductive health services country wide amidst huge demand of services by society.

” We strongly call upon government to increase investment in high impact interventions like sexual reproductive health including family planning, gender based violence and nutrition programmes during this covid season,”he said.

” Government should also leverage on resources and expertise in integrating health with other sectors and work more effectively towards a shared goal of ending preventable deaths,”he added.

He revealed that Uganda needs close to 5 million dollars annually for Sexual Reproductive Health services.

Chekweko was briefing Asian and African parliamentarians on Reproductive Health Uganda’s progress journey towards achieving UN Sustainable Development goal of universal reproductive health for all by 2030.

Parliamentarians toured RHU to gauge Uganda achievements since the last international conference on development and population.

25 years ago, 179 countries adopted a land mark programme of action during the International Conference on Population and Development to address population, family planning and poverty in society. 179 countries promised to strive for achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all by no later than 2015,to achieve infant mortality rates below 35 per 1,000 live births and under five mortality rates below 45 per 1,000 live and 75 percent reduction of the maternal mortality births.

Chekweko said RHU is currently working with parents, guardians, caretakers, teachers, cultural leaders and religious leaders to reach more young people with information and services as means of providing services to the community country wide.

“Against covid 19 pandemic, RHU provided 7.2 million integrated sexual reproductive health services which included family planning, Hiv prevention, care and treatment, breasts and cervical cancer screening sexually transmitted infections management,”he explained.

Challenge

He noted that people of Uganda still face urgent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, with high prevalence of HIV and AIDS and unmet needs for contraception presenting some of the most immediate and life-threatening risks.

Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), formerly the Family Planning Association of Uganda, was established in 1957. It now provides services in 29 of the country’s districts through 768 service points: 17 static clinics, 74 mobile facilities, 35 associated clinics and a network of hundreds of community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs).

RHU’s comprehensive range of services include family planning, the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections and post-abortion care.

The work is led by a full-time staff of 19, supported by nearly 4,000 volunteers. These include 56 community-based distributors, 118 peer educators and a Youth Action Movement which has nearly 1,000 members.

An estimated 98% of RHU’s clients are poor, marginalized, socially excluded or under-served. Target groups include refugees, young women in conflict-affected areas, sex workers, hawkers, Boda Boda riders, taxi operators and maids.

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