Uganda lags behind in key MDGs as 2015 deadline closes in - report

Kampala

Uganda is lagging behind on achieving key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) barely two years to the 2015 deadline, the latest ministry of Finance and 2013 United Nations Development Programme Uganda progress report shows.

The report launched yesterday reveals that goals such as achieving universal primary education, improving maternal health and combating HIV/Aids were ranked slow, stagnant and reversed respectively. Despite having led the world in combating HIV/Aids about two decades ago, Mr Albert Musisi, the commissioner of Economic Policy and Research Department, said HIV/Aids prevalence among the 15-49 year olds has increased from 6.4 per cent to 7.3 per cent between 2004 and 2011.

Statistics
It is estimated that 353 new infections occur daily and that while improved access to ARV treatment has reduced, 60,000 Ugandans die from HIV/Aids annually. It is also said Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio is among the highest in the world estimated at 438 per 100,000 live births while the rate of primary school drop-out is also on an increase.

The UN resident coordinator in Uganda, Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, expressed concern over the reversal in HIV/Aids infections in the country. “It is worrying that after decades of leading global efforts to fight the epidemic, Uganda is experiencing reversal trends,” Ms Eziakonwa-Onochie said. She also noted the high number of women who die during pregnancy and child-birth related-complications estimated at 16 mothers daily.

The high mortality rate was attributed to the high level of teenage pregnancies.
According to the health sector ministerial policy statement for 2013/14 financial year, the disease burden, owing mainly to HIV/Aids, malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia, indicates that the ministry needs significant funding to scale up considerable implementation of the programmes.
Ms Eziakonwa-Onochie urged the government to allocate resources to address HIV/Aids and maternal health challenges.

The report findings contradict what President Museveni recently told UN General Assembly in New York that Uganda had successfully achieved more than half of the MDGs, and is on target to reach the remaining goals by the 2015 deadline.

Progress
Uganda has, however, made considerable progress towards achieving goals such as promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development where the country is said to be on track. According to the scorecard, Uganda has already achieved the first goal – eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and achieving debt sustainability.

Poverty levels are said to have fallen to 24.5 per cent in 2009/10 from 56.4 per cent in 1992/93, below the 25 per cent, 2015 target. The eight goals were agreed on by world leaders in 2000 as part of the development agenda.

The World Bank and International Monetary Fund report released in May indicated that Uganda will only be able to achieve only two MDGs –halving poverty and promoting gender equality and in empowering women. Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka said the government was pleased with the progress achieved in most important areas, adding that it intends to revitalise its approach in areas that have seen slower progress.

Ms Kiwanuka, however, said allocating more resources to public education and health services will not be sufficient without further improvements in the efficiency of service delivery, adding that MDG progress relies heavily on expansion of economic opportunities. “People need to work. That is why revenue from oil will be invested in infrastructure development to create opportunities,” she said.

The government also came up with the post-2015 development agenda to ensure that the country continues to pursue the goals even after 2015.

The TARGETS
1. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieving universal primary education
3. Promoting gender equality and empowering women
4. Reducing child mortality rates
5. Improving maternal health
6. Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensuring environmental sustainability
8. Developing a global partnership for development

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