On September 15, a coalition of civil society organizations whose efforts include seeing Ugandans enjoy better health services including The International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) launched the Uganda Election 2016 Health Manifesto. This is a platform demanding all parties and candidates to commit that once elected, they will help correct the failings of the health sector in Uganda. By doing this, these parties and candidates will help deliver essential, quality prevention and treatment services. The manifesto is a 10 point guide for candidates.
“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,” says Rachel Nandelenga of the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS Eastern Africa (ICWEA).
For us women living with HIV, the issues in the manifesto that stand out for us are;
The need to end the AIDS epidemic through universal treatment, high impact prevention, and human rights
Stopping violence against women and promoting access to sexual and reproductive health and rights
Tackling maternal and newborn mortality as a national crisis
Opposing discriminatory laws and policies that impede access and undermine the right to health
Increasing health sector funding
The coalition pointed out that the most repeated excuse—lack of funding—is not credible, since other priorities receive funding when considered politically beneficial preis cialis. 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.
A poll conducted in August 2014 by Columbia University reported that healthcare is the most important issue for Ugandan voters and for Parliament to address. Data shows that health, according to voters, is far more important than joblessness, education, or crime.
“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.
