On June 8, 2016, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development read Uganda’s budget for the Financial Year 2016/2017. The budget reflects an increment in the health sector budget from Ushs1.227 trillion (FY 2015/16) to Ushs1.828 trillion (FY 2016/17) giving an increase of Ushs607.55 billion.
This is a commendable step towards availability of health services to the citizens. Major increments have been reflected in Ministry of Health, Uganda Cancer Institute and National Medical Stores, district primary health care, Regional Referral Hospitals and Mulago complex.
However, the 50% increment to the health sector budget sums up to only 8.7% of the national budget and that remains below the 15% Abuja target that Uganda committed to fulfill. This leaves the health sector with a huge gap to fill.
Unfortunately, any gap in the health sector affects women living with HIV most since they bear the burden of the AIDS epidemic the most. And as mothers, we remain at the centre of meeting health care needs of our family members a role that is affected with a poorly functioning health sector.
Today, The International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) is holding a press conference together with other CSOs including DSW, AGHA and CSBAG to share the analysis of the budget and how it affects the health needs and priorities of people living with HIV especially women living with HIV in Uganda.
The team will at the press conference today urge for a reallocation of funds which will in term lead to an improvement in the quality of life of women living with HIV.
Read full statement here: Press statement FY 2016-2017
