Kyotera: President Yoweri Museveni has warned Ugandans against the growing threat of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are largely about lifestyle. The President’s message was delivered by H.E. Maj Jessica Alupo (Rtd), the Vice President of Uganda at the commissioning of Kamagwa Health Center IV in Kyotera Districton tuesday 15th august 2023.
According to the President, these diseases are caused by inactivity, coupled with over-eating. The good news is that they are easy to prevent. One simply has to adopt positive and healthy lifestyles, like exercising more and watching your diet. The increase in the cases of cancer, diabetes and heart-related diseases, especially in the urban areas, is attributed to unhealthy lifestyles. I call upon all leaders to carryout sensitization campaigns, on the health benefits of staying fit and good nutrition, to curb these new killers, among our people.
Additionally, H.E the President applauded His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, for his spirited efforts to trigger the enlightenment and socio- economic transformation of communities. He stated that “The commissioning of this Health Centre, is a remarkable milestone. It will boost access to health care and treatment, for the surrounding communities. I thank you for being supportive of the NRM’s efforts to transform Uganda. I congratulate Your Eminence and all the stakeholder, that have contributed to the construction of this health facility”
The President added that, the NRM’s policy, on health, is premised on implementing a clear preventive strategy. This means minimizing the occurrence of diseases; rather than concentrating on treatment or cure. In addition to the above, President said that “This disease prevention strategy, has been carried out through prioritizing immunization, observing good hygiene, promotion of good nutrition, fitness campaigns, etc.
In his message he underlined the importance of the health facility because a healthy population is an asset and a resource that spearheads economic and social development. The focus of the NRM government, since 1986, has been to ensure that the people of Uganda are healthy and educated, by improving access to maternal health services; carrying out mass immunisation campaigns against the killer diseases and an aggressive campaign against HIV/AIDS.
The President also stated that In 1987, 96,000 children were dying, in Uganda, per year, from the six preventable diseases. These were: polio, whooping cough, measles, tetanus, tuberculosis and diphtheria. By stopping those deaths, the population of Uganda has jumped from 14 million people in 1986 to 45 million people, today. Similarly, life expectancy has risen from 43 years in 1986 to 65 years now.
H.E President Museveni re-echoed the NRM’s message of wealth creation, at the household level. Having prioritized electricity, roads, schools, hospitals, peace and security, the NRM Government has established a solid foundation for Uganda’s development and socio-economic transformation. However, development alone is not enough, though it must come first. Development is a collective good for everyone. But wealth and jobs belong to individuals, families, groups or companies. There should not be spectators in the drive towards increasing the household incomes to make sure we eliminate subsistence farming.
The four major sectors for creating wealth and jobs are commercial Agriculture, Industrialization, Services and ICT. I call upon all leaders to help our people identify profitable enterprises in any of these sectors, to boost generation of income at the household level.
Finally, I congratulate you all upon the grand opening of Kamaggwa Health Centre IV and wish you success in all your endeavors to serve the people of Uganda.