By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
In commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) organized a medical camp in Kiganda zone, Kawempe North, Kampala.
This health camp was in partnership with Kiganda Maternity Clinic which saw a total of over 1,000 women acquire free service for non communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS, diabetes, Blood Pressure , spinal conditions among others.
Speaking to journalists, Agnes Kisakye, the president of the FDC women’s league said the health camp was organized to extend healthcare services to vulnerable women and young girls in Kawempe North who cannot access quality healthcare from specialized hospital.
“There are a number of challenges women are facing. I don’t think we really need to celebrate this day, but rather to gather and talk about these challenges, and slso come up with strategies to support our communities,” said Kisakye.
She highlighted some of the challenges facing women like maternal mortality, HIV services among others. She argues that the government has deliberately failed its mandate to take care of its citizens and addressing issues of women.
“Women are almost 60% of the population but the budget allocation is not equally distributed, and specifically the health budget for women and yet they face slot of challenges,” she added.
She urged the government to consider allocating more funds to the the health budget particularly on women’s health to address these challenges.
Elizabeth Namubiru, the Kiganda zone chairperson LC1, and proprietor of Kiganda Maternity Clinic commended FDC for extending free healthcare services in her community, stating that access to healthcare remains a challenge in Kawempe North because of inadequate healthcare facilities.
Additionally, the chairperson LC1 raised concerns over the growing numbers of teenage pregnancies in the area resulting into school dropout, disease infections and drug abuse. She appealed to the government to establish programs that support women and the youth, as well as providing capital incentives for the youth to support them economically.
Speaking at the health camp, the FDC candidate for Kawempe North by-election, Sadat Mukiibi alias Kalifah Aganaga said women in Kawempe North walk long distances to access healthcare services to the only public health facility – Komamboga HCIV in the constituency, which is many times overcrowded with patients and lacks medicines. He pledged to advocate for more budget allocations in parliament and ensuring that many health facilities are established and made accessible to women.
“Kawempe North has one government health facility. So, when I am elected the area MP, I will advocate for more funding so that most resources are allocated to the healthcare services and make them more accessible to women,” said Kalifah.
He also pledged to advocate for the rights of women market vendors, address human rights violations, and champion other pressing community concerns.
Some of the women who spoke to Parrots Media expressed concerns that many men have abandoned their responsibilities, leaving women to struggle with raising children and supporting their families alone.
