The Ministry of Health (MOH) has signed an MoU the government of Japan to improve health services in Uganda.
While signing this partnership on Wednesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Kampala, Japan’s Ambassador to Uganda Kazuaki Kameda said the MoU is aimed at promoting cooperation in Health promotions, prevention and control of Communicable Diseases, Improving access to hygiene innovations and awareness on reproductive health.
“Japan is working on African development issues through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and in 2016 while in the conference, Japan launched a health initiative that includes the promotion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Based on this, we have set basic principles on Africa Health and Wellbeing Initiative to promote African UHC,” HE Kazuaki said.
Kazuaki added that though the signed partnership, MOH and Japan’s Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will focus on creating a vibrant and healthy society for long and productive lives by strengthening the necessary medical services, health care services and services that support healthy lives.
Such services include business-based approaches which will enhance both economic development and growth “This initiative will improve Uganda’s health care and enable economic growth while stimulating private sector activities,” added Kameda.
After the signing, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng thanked the government of Japan for the help it has always offered to Uganda especially in the Health sector.
“Japan has always supported Uganda in areas of infrastructure development, capacity building, provision of appropriate medical equipment and health systems, strengthening and quality improvement. We are ready to move together for the good of Ugandans because it’s a healthy population that will facilitate development,” said Dr Aceng.
The partnership has come in time when the Ministry of Health is in a panic due to the Malaria upsurge in the country brought about by heavy rains.
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