The health care system in Uganda, as we saw, is not up to
par with that of many other countries. Overall the system as a whole is
lacking. The facilities, the access, and the quality could each use some updating.
While we were at the Mukono Hospital, we saw how little the hospital was able
to do for the patients. Especially considering they receive many trauma
patients and aren’t equipped to handle them. There are only 2 referral
hospitals in Uganda, which is not enough to handle all the people in need of
attention. The cost is also a barrier for many, including the patients and the
hospitals themselves. They are relying on donations and charity not only to pay
for treatment, but also to update facilities. This is clearly not helping the
country, specifically the health care system, to be sustainable. The one agenda in which they are succeeding would be the fight to end HIV/AIDS. Throughout each of
the health care visits, I noticed the emphasis in free access to not only
testing, but medication as well.
Discussion Question: How can Uganda provide quality care to people
suffering from poverty in a more sustainable way?
In response to your question, I think the implementation of free HIV/AIDS medication is a great start to this idea of sustainable and affordable healthcare. However, healthcare run into the issue of needing more supplies which cost money, and often, patients cannot pay for their services, leading to a lack of resources all around. In my opinion, the best start to sustainable healthcare is education: teaching the community how to take care of themselves, keeping doctors in Uganda, and how to sustain themselves without the crutch of foreign aid.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question I first believe that roads should be focused on in order for facilities to reach more citizens in a timely and effective manner. Secondly, I suggest that healthcare be taught in schools so individuals know how to better protect their bodies. More directly, while Uganda currently spends $8 per person on healthcare, that is obviously lacking. A reallocation of the budget to healthcare is crucial. This would then enable a higher caliber of facilities and the ability to pay more medical personnel.
ReplyDeleteUganda can work to provide healthcare to people that can't normally afford it by working to increase the rates of insurance, reform the pricing structures, and working to have higher levels of medical professionals in Uganda. Creating a system that pushes people toward the care of a nurse can also help in keeping costs low for both the hospital and the patients.
ReplyDeleteThe emphasis of treating HIV/Aids is very important in Uganda and they seem to be spending lots to do so. I think once the HIV/Aids problem is taken care of the NGO's will start to focus on providing better healthcare for citizens. Uganda needs educate new generations on health care and HIV/Aids and make an initiative to create better health care plans for the poor.
ReplyDeleteGreat post !! Thanks for sharing valuable content.
ReplyDeleteClick here to know more UN sustainable development goals.