FDC WOMEN LEAGUES PRESS CONFERENCE

FDC WOMEN League

FDC WOMEN LEAGUE PRESS CONFERENCE –March 3,2015

Ingrid  Chairperson FDC women league

Ladies and gentlemen, 8th March is a special international day for women across continents. The international women’s day has been observed since the early 1900’s, at a time of great turbulence in the industrialized world that saw population growth and rise of radical ideologies.
In 1908, there was great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women’s oppression and inequality had escalated,. women became vocal and active in campaigning for change. In this same year 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding for shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights.
To us, FDC, this day represents an opportunity for us to renew our resolve and commitment in the struggle to liberate our country. It is a time for us women to reflect on the progress we have made so far, especially in the stuggle for equality, freedom and call for change. It is also a day that we will look back at the acts of courage and determination by Ugandan women who have played an extra-ordinary role in the history of fighting dictatorship in our country. 
While marking this day, we will carry out a campaign which will specifically target the health of a Ugandan woman. This is due to the fact that the foundation of a healthy nation begins with a healthy woman. “a healthy woman makes a wealthy family , a wealthy families make a wealthy nation.”.

For the past 30 years the death rate of women giving birth has been 16 and now increased to 19 women per day, 480 per month and 5,760 annually. And therefore 172,800 deaths in 30 years. (calculation basing on 16 deaths daily)
The deaths are attributed to negligence, lack of delivery tools/drugs and inadequate staffing in health centres

.The goals of improving women's health conditions is not only a national obligation but it’s an internationally recognized agenda, for some time from the first International Safe Motherhood Conference in 1987 to the International Conference for Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994, the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, and ICPD+5 in 1999.

The government of Uganda, is a signatory to many international conventions which obliges the government to meet the set goals through agreements with development partners and other international organizations like, The World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1999. These organizations have not only financed these programs but they have been critical in engaging Uganda government in policy dialogues to improve the conditions of the ordinary Ugandan woman.

Caring for women’s health requires a strong and sustained government commitment, a favorable policy environment and well-targeted resources.

Issues:
1. Reproductive Health, there is no complete and fully functional system that ensures, mothers have the capability to reproduce , have access to safe, effective, affordable and no health-care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth.

2. The maternal mortality rate has remained one of the highest in the world recording, 430 deaths per 100,000 live births.

3. Widespread poverty Uganda has the cumulative effects to a woman’s health throughout the reproductive cycle. having limited access to health services

4. Under funded Family planning and sexual counseling departments has made early pregnancy increase because young girls have not been exposed to sex education and counseling.

5. Government has failed to provide affordable supplements in the hospitals which are much needed like Iron, iodine, and vitamins. Uganda mothers are malnourished during pregnancy and child birth becomes a complicated stage.

6. Ugandan woman lacks even the most basic of care to a pregnant woman, hospitals lack skilled staff, inadequate supply of drugs, and ill equipped hospitals.

7. Rural women are neglected by the corrupt health officials because they cannot afford to bribe for services.

8. Many Uganda girls and young women become coerced to trade sex for economic survival.

The Budget to save a mother during delivery is Razorblade 100, gloves 500, syringe 100, injection 500, total 1200=. Therefore, 22,800 saves 19 women.

600.000.000 was spent to deliver only one grandson! This would have saved 500.000 women. President’s convoy spends 1 bn every visit. How many women can be saved if this money is used for that purpose? 1 bn saves 833,333 women.

Therefore as women of Uganda, we consider it not worth a day of neither happiness nor celebration, since, the government that has both the mandate and the capacity to ensure that the ordinary Ugandan woman gets the services they deserve has decided to neglect us.

We call up on the women of Uganda to understand and fully acknowledge that this government has completely failed in the essential services for women’s health, both in prevention and management of positive health practices; we say, PLEASE… stay home.

No Woman left behind 
One Uganda One People.