Health Sector Issue No
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HEALTH SECTOR ISSUE NO. 1 MAY 2017 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA MINISTRY OF HEALTH NEWSLETTER Uganda Registers Decline in Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates ganda has made tremendous strides The survey indicates a significant de- deaths per 100,000 live births. There is Uin maternal health, according to the cline in maternal mortality rates, from also marked improvement in pregnant sixth Demographic and Health Survey as high as 438 deaths per 100,000 live women attending four or more antenatal 2016. births in the 2011 to the current 336 (Continues to page 12) National Health Laboratory Services: What the growing recognition means aboratory services constitute the entry point into From setting up 100 laboratory hubs which are Lquality health care by enabling proper disease diagnosis, geographically located to cover the entire country, each of monitoring, control as well as guiding treatment. Over 70% which is supporting 25 to 30 lower health facilities with of the decisions made in patient management as well as in referral lab services through designated bike riders attached disease prevention and control are dependent on laboratory to each hub, the Ministry has extensively increased access to results. laboratory services. The laboratory sub-sector is therefore one of the priority systems that the Government of Uganda through the (Continues to page 4) Ministry of Health has undertaken to strengthen. 65,590 women Mulago Hospital FEATURED benefit from the renovation works to CONDITION: voucher project be completed by July Depression - page 4 - page 6 - page 8 2 3 Ministry of HealtH top MANAGEMENT THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA MINISTRY OF HEALTH From the Editor ministry OF health reetings and a warm welcome to our very first issue of the Health Mandate GSector Newsletter! We couldn’t be more excited to have made it to Ministry of Health is responsible for policy this point. review and development, supervision of health sector activities, reelating with health In this issue, we bring you updates on the infrastructural development, development partners, strategic planning, public health policies and programs, a closer insight into the setting standards and quality assurance, resource Internationally accredited and recognised National Health Laboratory mobilisation, advising Government of Uganda Services and other exciting messages and facts from the different on health-related matters, and ensuring quality, subdivisions of the health sector. health equity, and fairness in contribution towards the cost of health care. The success of the sector and the ultimate goal of improved service delivery is a reflection of the outstanding work and support of our Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng – Minister of Health Vision partners and stakeholders, not forgetting the dedicated service of health Our Vision is to have a healthy and productive professionals. population that contributes to socio-economic growth and national development. I seize this opportunity to thank all those who have submitted their contributions for this Issue, the assistance and guidance of the Publications Committee and the efforts put in by the Editorial team to Mission make this a reality. Our Mission is to provide the highest possible level of health services to all people in Uganda We are honoured to share the work of a team of committed and through delivery of promotive, preventive, thoughtful people, from the various sub-sectors and development curative, palliative and rehabilitative health partners. services at all levels”. We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of Editor Uganda’s Health Sector Newsletter. Vivian Nakaliika Serwanjja Please feel free to provide your feedback and send pertinent information Assistant Editor on what you would love to read about in our forthcoming issues. Abirahmi Kananathan Hon. Sarah Opendi – Minister of State Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu – Dr. Diana Atwine – Permanent With warmest thanks, for General Duties Minister of State for Primary Health Secretary Associate Editor Care Rukia Nakamatte Mbaziira Vivian Nakaliika Serwanjja Contributing writers Editor Enock Kusasira Mulago National Referral Hospital Bashir Hangi Uganda Sanitation Fund Additional input Edmund Mwebembezi World Health Organisation (WHO) Catherine Ntabadde Makumbi UNICEF Mr. Ssegawa Ronald Gyagenda – Under Prof. Anthony K. Mbonye – Ag. Direc- Dr. Henry Mwebesa – Director Health Photographer Secretary tor General Health Services Services, Planning and Development Sam Nalwala 4 5 (Continues from page 1) To improve the laboratory capacity at each hub to enable it meet the demand, national each hub had its lab infrastructure upgraded, equipment profile improved, and manpower increased. To improve the quality of services emanating from HealtH the laboratory hubs, each hub lab was enrolled in the Strengthening Laborato- ry Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA) program with the aim of hav- laboratory ing each laboratory hub internationally accredited with time. Building the national laboratory network did not end by setting up the SERVICES 100 laboratory hubs, but also involved setting up a national coordination centre for laboratory services – Uganda National Health Laboratory Services What the growing recognition (UNHLS)- at Butabika. means for Ugandans Besides being a coordination centre for laboratory services across the country, UNHLS has several national reference by the South African National Accredi- “We can now be confident of the results laboratories notably the Early Infant tation System (SANAS) for the next four emanating from this laboratory for HIV Diagnosis (EID), the Viral Load, years. The certificate of accreditation patient diagnosis and monitoring. The the Sickle Cell, the Hepatitis and the became effective from 2nd February results this laboratory generates un- Bacteriology laboratories etc. All these 2017 and will expire on the 1st February der the scope of this accreditation are laboratories are offering public health 2021 when it will be renewed as long as considered one and the same as those The Vice President Edward Sekandi joins Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, US Amb Deborah Malac and other ministers services to all Ugandans through the the standards are maintained. produced from any standard laboratory to cut the cake symbolizing UNHLS’ grand opening sample transport network, which is also in Europe and America.“ Aisu notes. coordinated at this site and all the ser- The accreditation demonstrates techni- equipment coupled with the already work to complement the existing cen- (Uganda National Health Laboratory vices offered at this facility are free. cal competency and the operation of a The achievement is expected to attract existing 9 Abbott M2000 equipment and tralised system, which will remain the Services), making it a semi-autonomous quality management system in accor- even more modern technologies and 5 Roche CAP CTM equipment, CPHL’s backbone of our VL/EID programing. institution, with the ability to mobilise To set up this laboratory network, both dance with the recognized International widen the range and scope of services VL/EID laboratory now has capacity its own resources. government and health development Standard ISO 15189-2012. this laboratory can offer. to test over 2,300,000 tests a year. With The Honourable Minister of Health Dr. partners have invested significant effort this very high VL testing capacity in one Jane Ruth Aceng reiterates government These great achievements were attained and resources. These efforts have begun During the period when the certificate Mr. Aisu is franked by the Permanent centralised laboratory, supported by a commitment to maintain the quality with support from the Ministry of to yield positive results. Between 2012 is effective, work from the EID and Viral Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana national wide hub based sample trans- of laboratory systems in Uganda, and Health partners, especially the United and now the laboratory sub-sector has Load laboratory of Uganda National Atwine. “A time will come when we will port network, Uganda has cost effective- support more laboratories in the na- States government through the Centres won 7 continental awards for good Health Laboratories (UNHLS) will be have no need to send a patient or a sam- ly made VL monitoring accessible to all tional network to attain accreditation as for Disease Prevention and Control practices and innovations such as the recognized and respected internation- ple abroad for laboratory diagnosis. This its ART patients in barely 2 years. No quickly as possible. (CDC) and the United States Agency national specimen referral system. Many ally. achievement comes in timely when the country had demonstrated this kind of for International Development (US- countries have had to come here and bill to make UNHLS autonomous is be- efficiency on the African Continent. Hon. Dr. Aceng says, “We have already AID) who have joined efforts with the benchmark on our laboratory system These awards reflect Government and fore parliament. This even gives us more earmarked at least six (6) more labora- Government of Uganda to strengthen and sample referral network. partner commitment and efforts to confidence that when UNHLS become Uganda has adopted this centralised tories at Regional Referral Hospital and laboratory systems. strengthening laboratory services to autonomous, they will be able to attract model for VL/EID testing because of General Hospital levels to be accredited The latest addition to these prestigious assume their