Health Systems Advocacy partners validated Theory of Change concept for Uganda.
After the launch of the Health Systems Advocacy (HSA) project in Uganda in March 2016 by the
Prof. Francis Omaswa, ACHEST Executive Director speaking at the Theory of Change workshop at Imperial Royal in Kampala four partners; AMREF Health Africa, the African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST), Health Action International (HAI) and WEMOS with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to advocate and influence sexual and reproductive health rights, the aforementioned partners on Monday 27th June 2016 launched a three days Theory of Change workshop to actualize and identify key areas for Uganda in the project.
The workshop that was convened by AMREF Africa, the lead partner in the first year of implementation focused on identifying; key indicators, problems to be addressed, strengthening and widening partnerships with the stakeholders and creating space for advocacy work in sexual reproductive health and health systems in Uganda. The HSA partners will then embark on a rigorous advocacy work aimed at strengthening health systems in Uganda so that more people can access Sexual Reproductive Health services.
“Uganda has not achieved its target in human resources for health, but has prioritize to recruit more anesthetists, medical doctors, nurses, midwives and surgeons in HC III’s and IV’s across the country with grants from the International Development Bank.” Dr. Placid Mihayo, Assistant Commissioner Sexual Reproductive Health at MOH noted while opening the workshop.
Prof. Francis Omaswa, the Executive Director of African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) while speaking at the workshop stressed that whereas the Health Systems Advocacy project aims at strengthening Health Systems in Uganda, partners in their approach should seek to integrate Health systems strengthening into health planning.
Dr. Patrick Kadama, Director of Policy and Strategy at ACEST on his part reiterated that when Health Systems Strengthening was introduced in Zambia, the other interventions suffered from being funded for the reason that focus was taken away from them and therefore warned that for Uganda to succeed, the duo should be integrated and prioritized.
This has come at a period when Uganda is transitioning from MDGs to SDGs with the average maternal mortality rate in Africa being more than 14 times higher than that of Asia juxtaposed to Uganda’s very experienced and educated population that could change the status-quo.
Prof. Omaswa also brought to the attention of the Ugandans that governments like the Netherlands government do not fund health programs in general lately, but rather opted to funding Sexual Reproductive Health Rights as a component which is building on the MDG goal 5; improving maternal health. “Uganda should learn from countries like; Canada, UK and USA that have made Sexual Reproductive Health Rights their development agenda.”
He likened the commitment by the proponents of maternal health rights in Uganda to joining a religion and said if handled without mourning and blaming others, the results will reflect empowered communities, accountability and stronger health systems that will be admired by all Ugandans.
Dr. Abeneb Leykun Berhanu, the Country Director of Amref Health Africa in Uganda while closing the workshop noted that, “We shall continue planning and refining the indicators of the project as we focus on the selected health system blocks; human resources for health and commodities that are very key in bringing about the change we want to see if we work together.”
The Theory of Change workshop that ran from 27th-29th June 2016 was conducted by Ms. Heather Budge-Reid, a Health Systems Specialist from PAMOJA and had in attendance; members from AMREF, HAI, ACHEST, Ministry of Health, HEPS, UNHCO, DHOs representative, nursing tutors among others.