Museveni commits 125 billion shillings to doctors
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Watchdog Uganda
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni commits 125 billion shillings as seed capital for a doctors’ savings and credit cooperative. He also calls for greater emphasis on disease prevention, notably through vaccination, access to clean water and sanitation, reports Watchdog Uganda.
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced on Friday 13 November an initial contribution of 125 billion shillings to a savings and credit cooperative for doctors, during the 10th Uganda Medical Association conference at Soroti University, reports Watchdog Uganda. He also announced a tax exemption for medical personnel.
Museveni indicated that the cooperative should improve doctors’ living conditions, finance their training and reduce the financial pressures that lead them to engage in several activities. He also called on the health sector to prioritise prevention and estimated that around 80% of diseases in Uganda could be prevented, according to Watchdog Uganda.
The president cited vaccination, nutrition, hygiene, access to clean water, sanitation and health education among the ways to reduce preventable diseases. He notably recalled that the national vaccination programme, initially focused on six deadly diseases responsible for around 96,000 child deaths per year, had contributed to progress against measles and polio.
Museveni asked district health officials to organise at least one radio programme every two weeks in local languages to inform the population about prevention and healthy lifestyles. He also warned against consuming peanuts contaminated with mould, which are associated with carcinogenic substances, according to Watchdog Uganda.
