Govt, Tooro Kingdom to promote health
What you need to know:
- King Oyo said he is optimistic the MoU will help to implement many interventions aimed at ending the disease burden in his kingdom.
The Ministry of Health has partnered with Tooro Kingdom to promote health services.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, and King Oyo of Tooro Kingdom, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end maternal deaths, malnutrition among children and to stop the transmission of HIV/Aids on Monday.
“As a ministry, we have recorded low percentage of children who have been immunised in Tooro Sub-region and an increase in the spread of HIV/Aids that we want to fight through engaging cultural institutions. We have kicked off this initiative with the signing of a MoU with the Buganda Kingdom, Busoga and now we are here in Tooro Kingdom for the same intervention,” Dr Atwine said.
The commissioner for health promotion and disease prevention, Mr Richard Kabanda, said the MoU will help to address the high malaria prevalence rate in the kingdom, which stands at five per cent.
Dr Atwine said the HIV/Aids prevalence rate in Kabarole District is still high at 10 per cent, which is higher than the national rate of 6.1 per cent. She said partnering with cultural institutions will help to disseminate information on disease prevention because many people believe in their cultural leaders.
“King Oyo has been an HIV/Aids ambassador and he has managed to sensitise the youth about the prevention of the spread of the disease. We want to engage the kingdom to disseminate the news,” Dr Atwine said.
King Oyo said he is optimistic the MoU will help to implement many interventions aimed at ending the disease burden.
“As a Kingdom, we have gazetted some land where we shall establish a specialised hospital like in Kitagwenda District and this will render better health services,” King Oyo said.
