LOCAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ORGANISATION
(LOSCO)
For
Immediate Release
STATEMENT
ON THE NEED FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE NEW BORNS AMIDST THE COVID-19
PREVENTION.
(Kabale 12th
August 2021) As citizens of a
society, each child assumes rights that should be upheld, independent to their
parents. It is therefore not out of charity that we act to help children,
rather it is an imperative act.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) no. 4 and 5
are among the 8 goals whose target is to reduce child and maternal morbidity
and mortality. Uganda like other UN members subscribed to the MDGs. There has
been a progress in achieving most of the MDGs but MDG5 has been a challenge to
most countries including Uganda.
Although it is not yet realized in practice, child
advocacy seems to represent the recognition by society that the developmental
needs of its children are so important that they must be ensured as rights to
be promoted and protected.
A 27-year-old woman Aharimpisa Caroline who produced
triplets at Rugarama hospital has called on leaders and well-wishers her for
assistance in these critical times. Aharimpisa a resident of Ikamiro parish,
Muko Sub county Rubanda District had her triplets on 26th July 2021.
To one of the Officers at LOSCO, Aharimpisa said
that she was operated before delivering. She says due to severe bleeding, the
health workers donated blood to save her life. She has nothing to sell at home
which could have generated the much-needed financial assistance because she
provides manual labour digging for other people. The father to the triplets Mr.
Tusasibwe Bosco aged 32 yrs also said he survives on casual work providing
manual labour making bricks for other people and providing for the family of 5
people has become a real challenge thus leaving the family in dire need.
Mugisha John Baptist, a ward doctor at Rugarama
Hospital said the triplets were prematures. He adds that the mother does not
have enough breast milk to breastfeed the triplets and so needs heavy financial
support to enable here proper feeding. The New Borns are being taken care of
from Rugarama Hospital in Kabale District.
Children do not have political power or a democratic
voice, and generally have actions done to them, often without their consent.
Without others, advocating for a child, the health and wellbeing of children
will be thrown into unprecedented jeopardy, which as Human Rights Advocates
will not allow.
We therefore
recommend that:
1.
Office of the
Prime Minister (OPM) to give emergency support to such families well knowing
that many of them are in the same state due to the recent COVID-19 Pandemic in
the country.
2.
The Area Members
of parliament get firsthand information from their communities (grass root
levels) and isolate such issues up for effective policy discussion at National
Level.
3.
Ministry of
Health (MoH) (Primary Health Care) gives priority to such endangered children
to secure their future through increased budget for Child Health
4.
The Ministry of
Health (MoH) at all levels to review budget guidelines to align with Child Welfare
services need.
For more
information, please contact:
Mr. Taremwa Albert – Executive
Director – LOSCO - +256772935100 albert.t@loscoug.org
Mr. Kakingwa Chrisantuhs – Head
of Advocacy – LOSCO - +256779797308 santuhs.k@loscoug.org
Ms. Moreen Ashiimwe – Head of
F&A – LOSCO -+256781347168 moreen.a@loscoug.org
