Uganda Health Reporter October 2013

Speed –up towards

MDGs 4 & 5 : Govern-

ment partners with

CSOs for improved

health services — pg2

Farmers tired of making

losses from tobacco

growing – pg2

Pictorial — pg3

You could run mad: why

sleeping is important—

pg4

Innocent endangered

due to weak laws

against tobacco use —

pg5

Free safe male circum-

cision as we celebrate

Independence — pg6

Inside this issue:

Points of

interest

Journalists warned

again tobacco in-

dustry interference

Free safe male cir-

cumcision in

Rukungiri as Ugan-

da Celebrates Inde-

pendence Day

Ignorance of local

leaders on Tobacco

Control Bill causes

worry

Farmer call it quits

on tobacco growing

in kanungu

Volume 1, Issue 10 October 2013

EDSON KINENE

"I haven’t heard about the

so called tobacco control

bill 2012 but what I know is

that tobacco growers in

Rukungiri are below the

poverty line when it comes

to household poverty."

These are the words of one

of the councilors in

Rukungiri municipal coun-

cil.

Members of parliament led

by the Kinkiizi East MP Dr.

Chris Baryomunsi are push-

ing for the passing of the

Tobacco Control Bill to re-

place the Public Smoking

Act that has not been imple-

mented since it’s enact-

ment.

On a radio talk show on one

of the local radio stations in

southwestern Uganda I got

surprised when the host

asked the panelist on the

bill and smartly he said he

knew nothing about the bill.

This brings me to the issue,

if the MPs say that the gov-

ernment has gazetted the

country and each area giv-

en a crop to best

grow now, the

people that

grow tobacco in

the district of

Rukungiri and

Kanungu where

local leaders say

they don’t know

about the bill,

what crops have been select-

ed for the two districts to

grow?

Recently, I took a trip to

Kihiihi sub county, Kibimbiri

village that accounts for the

largest tobacco growers in

Kanungu district. I interacted

with one David Rwakakiga

who has grown tobacco for the

last 20 years, he said that he

has failed to see his children

get educated because they

have engaged in money mak-

ing at an early age, during the

tobacco season, his children

live school for tobacco busi-

ness.

“My last child is 13 years but

he knows all processes per-

taining tobacco growing, har-

vesting, drying and selling

making it difficult for him to

like school but money, ” Da-

vid Rwakakiga said.

For the last 20 years David

Rwakakiga has only managed

to construct a 15 iron sheets

home, buy 6 goats, paid

school fees for his 2 sons. He

has other 2 daughters in pri-

mary level and a son who

droped out of school in senior

two.

The chairperson of the Non

Communicable Diseases

Committee Hon. Namugwan-

ya Benny Bugembe who re-

cently led a team of Parlia-

mentarians from National As-

sembly of Tanzania said the

anti-tobacco bill is going to

be put to the parliament of

Uganda and when it is passed

most people will find it very

hard to deal in tobacco prod-

ucts and the producers of the

crop will definitely suffer the

consequences.

“We are therefore saying that

it is high time the people

found alternative crops to

grow,” she said.

Now I wonder if most leaders

in Rukungiri don’t know the

bill in it’s last stages how will

it be implemented in the ar-

ea?

There is need for sensitization

of the masses about the bill so

that everybody gets to know

about it and it’s importance.

[email protected]

“We are ignorant about Tobacco Control Bill” - Local leaders

“If MPs don’t know about

the Tobacco Control Bill

in its final stages I wonder

if it will be implemented

once passed”

Tobacco control activists in a walk– campaign for improved laws

Image source : Tobacco free kills

Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA) P. O. Box 36600. Kampala Uganda. Phone: +256-414-669-523

Email: [email protected]. Blog: www.healthuganda.wordpress.com. Website: www.healthuganda.org

Page 2

Uganda Health Reporter Volume 1, Issue 10 October 2013

A publication of Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA)

RONALD AGABA

Uganda Health Communication Alli-

ance was among the CSO’s that met

about a week ago to review the

sharpened plan developed by the

government on Reproductive Mater-

nal and New born Child Health

(RMNCH)

In a meeting organized by Word Vi-

sion, partnering CSO’s met to re-

view , improve and re-affirm their

commitment in working with the gov-

ernment in speeding-up the realiza-

tion of Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 by 2017.

The report shows results of govern-

ment conducted research in various

districts. 84000 child deaths and 3000

maternal deaths were realized. The

reports stated that so revert these

numbers by 2017, a budget of 633

USD would be required. It further

identifies those districts that are high-

ly affected (high burdened) thus mak-

ing them priority targets for improve-

ment schemes that are being

planned. These comprised of districts

in the north and east that were found

below the average.

Once finalised, the report will also

clearly show demarcation of commit-

ments made by various stakeholders

such at the CSO’s, parliament, part-

ners and government enabling them

play there part in this plan.

After reviewing the sharpening plan,

participants broke into discussion

groups to further reflect on the report

in detail but with more emphasis of

correcting and improving the com-

mitments CSOs are to sign-up for.

Changes were incorporated by the

teams and the report was forwarded

to the government for consideration

that evening.

Email: [email protected]

Sharpened RMNCH Plan released: Government

to double in achieving MDG 4 & 5

“CSOs commit to work with

government to improve ser-

vices of maternal health”

ASABA LINDA

Kanungu is one of the districts

known for growing tobacco,

UHCA with partnering journal-

ists from 10 media houses visit-

ed the south western part of

Uganda for a media excursion

on tobacco growing in the re-

gion.

Interacting with farmers who

are growing tobacco, they ex-

pressed their disappointments

in regard to growing the crop.

The good news got is that

farmers are opting for other crops.

“Most of the farmers have come to

find out that tobacco as a plant de-

mands a lot this has forced many of

them to stop growing it” said one

farmer .

Growing tobacco also forced

children to drop out of school

especially during the planting

and harvesting seasons. Many

of the women on the other hand

are disgruntled that they put in

a lot of their time and energy

but when the returns come out

they are not worth their input

and the men take it all leaving

them to starve when as you are

a tobacco farmer all the other

crops grown on the farm cannot

be consumed because of the effect

that it causes to the soils.

Tobacco growing farmers opt alternative crops

John Sengoma, Former tobacco farmer speaking to journalists during the excursion

Continued on page 4

Photo by: Asaba Linda

UHCA PICTORIAL



Page 3

Photo by: Asaba Barbara Photo by: Ronald Agaba

Photo by: Ronald Agaba

Photo by: Asaba Barbara

Photo by: Christine

Journalists interviewing Kanungu LC.3 chairperson Mr. Nelson Natukunda (right)

Agnes Kirabo, nutrition activist speaking to participants during nutrition advocacy trainings

Tobacco activists meet with Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Rihankana Rugunda (in white shirt)

Photo: Linda Asaba

Photo: Linda Asaba

Photo: Linda Asaba Photo: Linda Asaba

Photo: Linda Asaba

Photo: Linda Asaba

Journalists talking to Christina Christmas (facing camera) a tobacco farmer in

Kanungu district

Baguma Richard UHCH Coordinator talking to journalist of the Parliamentary Press

Photo: Ronald Agaba

Rev. Canon Kenneth Kanyankole (R), Diocesan Dev’t & Planning Officer Kikizi

Diocese talks about church programs

EDSON KINENE

Researchers have shown that the

brain uses sleep to wash away the

waste toxins built up during a hard

day's thinking. The US team believes

that the waste removal system is one

of the fundamental reasons for

sleep.

The world commemorated the

World Mental Health Day on 10th

October.

In Rukungiri district, the Health Of-

ficer Dr. Rutahigwa Elias confirmed

the research with a simple demon-

stration of a walking person who

talks to him/herself in whispers.

“People walk while talking that

hard thinking makes one mad be-

cause a person is not supposed to

talk alone and moreover while walk-

ing.” Dr. Rutahigwa said in an inter-

view with journalists during World

Mental Health Day celebrations.

He said that sleep eases one’s

thinking and rests the brain after a

days work so one needs to sleep.

The US team study, showed brain

cells shrink during sleep to open up

the gaps between neu-

rons and allow fluid to

wash the brain clean.

The Mental Treatment Act

of 1964 is now obsolete

and its offensive language

reflects the prejudices

and scant understanding of mental

health prevalent at the time it was

written.


Why it is important to sleep



Page 4

“ You could get mad

if you spend a long

time without ade-

quate sleep”



Image source: Google

Interviewing one of the farmers who

had grown tobacco for over 20 years.

He said that during the time he was

growing tobacco he used to suffer lots

of pains that he didn’t know where

they came from, and all the family

members would surfer from diseases

like flu, cough and general body

weakness.

After stopping the growing to tobacco

his family are much better and he

realizes that all the pain they used to

go through was because of the strenu-

ous work that came with tobacco

farming. Growing food crops is much

more beneficial to the family and it

also has helped his children stay in

school since they do not have to work

in the gardens like it was before. He

added.

The public needs to know that there

are a lot of health challenges mostly to

the farmers since the interact with the

crop at most times. These farmers are

stuck with the crop not because their

soils cannot accept other crops but

because they do not have the re-

sources to grow alternative crops.

Farmers in Kanungu say they can

grow other crops like rice, coffee

and maize but their main challenge

is that they cannot afford the nec-

essary inputs so that the crops can

yield.


Continued from page 2

Opting for an alternative from growing tobacco

“Quitting growing tobacco

reduces diseases and keeps

children in school”



Page 5



UHCA trains parliamentary reporters on tobacco

control RONALD AGABA

Uganda Health Communication Alli-

ance (UHCA) recently trained Par-

liamentary reporters on to-

bacco control, particularly

focusing on the tobacco con-

trol bill

Speaking during the dia-

logue, Namanya Ronald

Reagan, an economist work-

ing with Center for Tobacco

Control Africa (CTCA) en-

lightened the team of jour-

nalists on how increased

taxation can help reduce

tobacco consumption thus

saving the lives that would

got wasted through its con-

sumption.

He called upon the team to

educate the public about

dangers of tobacco con-

sumption but most importantly the

passing of the Tobacco Control Bill

that is expected to be tabled to par-

liament.

Baguma Richard, Coordinator

UHCA told the journalist that main

reason for the dialogue was to

equip journalists with facts and

knowledge to guard against any

moves by the tobacco industry in

the attempt to interfere with the

passing of the bill.

Baguma requested for there input

in pushing for the passing of the

Tobacco Control Bill.

However, he emphasized that the

bill would not completely stop

smoking but regulate the use of to-

bacco products so that the right’s

and health of people who don’t

smoke are not violated. He descried

the ignorance of tobacco users who

have continuously misused the laxity

in the laws to contaminate the envi-

ronment hence rendering innocent

lives at risk of tobacco use effects.

Email: [email protected] Journalists urged not to be

mislead by tobacco industry

interference as activists push

for the passing of the Tobacco

Control Bill

Namanya Ronald Reagan speaking to the journalists of the Parliamentary Press Association during the dialogue

Photo by: Ronald Agaba

UGANDA HEALTH COMMUNICATION

ALLIANCE (UHCA)

Communication empowerment for media and health practitioners

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:

Plot 16, Martyr’s Ways,

P. O. Box 36600,Ntinda

Kampala - Uganda.

CONTACT:

Phone: +256-414-669-523

Blog: www.healthuganda.wordpress.com

Facebook: Uganda Health communication

Alliance

Email: www.healthuganda.org

Editor: Baguma Tinkasimire Richard

Assistant Editor: Ronald Agaba

NOTICE: The editorial team welcomes everyone's participa-

tion in our monthly newsletter. Kindly send your :

Article(s) to [email protected]

Comment(s) to [email protected]

UP Coming Events

World Mental Health Day — 10 October

World Sight Day — 11 October

Safe motherhood Day — 17th October

Patients solidarity Day — 30th October

EDSON KINENE

Hundreds men received free safe

male circumcision at Rwamah-

wa health center iv in Rukungiri Mu-

nicipality.

The activity was organized by gov-

ernment as one of the activities

scheduled for Ugandan’s Independ-

ence Day that was celebrated in the

district.

Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa, the District

Health Officer said that the service

was conducted in collaboration with

Uganda’s People Defense Force

(UPDF).

While speaking to this reporter, Cap-

tain Evelyn Asiimwe urged men to

embrace the campaign that was to

last a week. She emphasized that safe

male circumcision is 60% effective on

reducing the risks of HIV infections.

Asiimwe said that this doesn’t mean

that one would be completely safe

from being at risk of getting the virus.

She further urged men not be mis-

lead by the practice leading them

into unsafe sexual practices thinking

they will be fine since they are cir-

cumcised. she said.

The latest survey reports indicate

that HIV/AIDS prevalence has in-

creased. She added that apart from

the prevention of the spread HIV/

AIDS, safe male circumcision also

improves hygiene, controls the

spread of Sexual Transmitted Diseas-

es like gonorrhea, syphilis and can-

dida among others. She said that

men are considered carriers of a vi-

rus that causes cervical cancer but if

circumcised women are safe and

protected from cervical cancer.

It is believed that over 37 men were

circumcised during the independ-

ence week in Rweshama landing site

on Lake Edward.


Army carries out safe male circumcision—western Uganda

“Free safe male circumcision as

Uganda celebrates 51 years of

Independence”

A poster used to campaign for safe male Circumcision

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Uganda Health Reporter October 2013

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