Monday, May 21, 2012
SUPPLIER EVALUATION AN ESSENTIAL TOOL
By Brian Ssenoga
bssenoga@ug.nationmedia.com
It is not common for small businesses to evaluate their suppliers citing challenges that come along with the practice but no matter the size of the business procurement experts have always recommended it for not only the smooth running of business but customer satisfaction as well.
Claire Kawenja the manager Kushona designers advises that if one is to take part in a profitable business, be it selling products in an average wholesale shop or online, one must monitor both your suppliers and clients, as routine evaluation is a good option if you choose to start a business.
“Most big suppliers typically are not looking to work with small sellers since they usually have a strong core customer base, negating the need to follow up on their product performance. Since these wholesale suppliers work with major consumers with a large amount of revenue, it is understandable that the supplier has no need to work on attracting customers, who are very much just small fish in a big container. They are more bent at selling and selling more not selling and checking on the product afterwards. It is better to carry out supplier evaluation especially when the product you are purchasing is just a raw material for the final product” adds Ms. Kawenja
Supplier evaluation is a term used in business and refers to the process of assessing and approving potential suppliers by factual and measurable assessment. It can be done on the existing or new suppliers on the basis of their delivery, prices, production capacity, and quality of management, technical capabilities and service.
The purpose of supplier evaluation is to ensure a selection of best suppliers available for use. Supplier evaluation is also a process applied to current suppliers in order to measure and monitor their performance for the purposes of reducing costs, mitigating risk and driving continuous improvement
“Supplier evaluation is a continual process within purchasing departments and forms part of the pre-qualification step within the purchasing process although in many organizations and companies it may include the participation and input of other departments and stakeholders” says Kisambira Amraphel head sales and marketing at Fathil International Projects.
He continues that an effective supplier evaluation process is always associated with other various benefits such as mitigation against poor supplier performance and performance failures.
Supplier evaluation can also help customers and suppliers identify and remove hidden cost drivers in the supply chain. The process in a way motivates suppliers to improve their performance as some times the customer is required to visit the place where the supplier works from. The benefits characteristically include sourcing from suppliers that provide high standards of product and service levels whilst offering sufficient capacity and business stability.
However the process always comes with a sizable number of challenges including making sure that evaluation of current suppliers goes beyond measurement to actual performance improvement by providing feedback to suppliers on their performance and working on continuous improvement opportunities.
Some of the challenges associated with supplier evaluation may be eased by the use of appropriate tools. For simple projects a questionnaire can be used. But as evaluations become more intricate and frequent, data management and data integrity issues become significant.
Thus, management commitment to and support of a supplier evaluation process is always essential.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Uganda's health sector to limp on for sometime
By Brian Ssenoga
Peoples’ lives have improved in Uganda, schools have been built and refurbished and at least 1.5 million mosquito nets have been distributed in the last one year but Uganda still grapples with health shortfalls posing huge consequences in addition to the staggering economy.
According to Dr. Asuman Lukwago, permanent secretary ministry of health, the health sector budget has remained stagnant between Shs 660 billion for the last five years and 790 billion in 2011/2012.
This has caused stock outs of essential medicines in the country and the maternal mortality rate is still high with sixteen mothers dying daily according to Dennis Kibira, chairman HEPS-Uganda a coalition for promotion and social development.
A report released last month by HEPS- Uganda reveals that while 55percent of HIV patients are co-infected with TB about ten Ugandan districts for six months have not had TB drugs causing a 40 percent death rate of the HIV patients co-infected.
Richard Kintu, coordinator Child Health Now campaign of World Vision Uganda says that about 16 women die every day in Uganda while giving birth or during pregnancy.
He adds that, “Maternal and child health is still a challenge in Uganda, every day at least sixteen mothers die in child birth. Uganda’s maternal mortality rate is at 435 per 100,000 live births which translate to 6000 deaths annually, child mortality remains high with 137 deaths per 1000 live births”
Gabriel Opio, former gender labour and social development minister says that, “Prior to the making of the national budget, all ministries meet and propose their budgets. But in most cases, their budgets add up to 150 percent; beyond the total national budget share of 100 percent and when we reconcile to 100 percent, we discover the money is not enough. So as much as we want to increase the national budget to the health sector, the funds are not there”
However, according to health minister Dr Christine Ondoa, infant mortality rate has considerably fallen.
“The number of children who die before their first birthday dropped to 54 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2011 from 76 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006. Also the percentage of women giving birth in health facilities increased to 57 percent in 2011 from 42 percent in 2006, with 59 percent of women in Uganda now giving birth with the assistance of skilled birth attendants” she says
In the 2010/2011 budget, the Government allocated about shs 260 billion to maternal and reproductive health. Of this, about shs 60 billion was to cater for reproductive health
In the 2003 African Union Maputo Declaration, member countries agreed to commit at least 15 percent of their annual national budgets to the health sector. Currently, Uganda’s budget share to the health sector is 8 percent, with maternal and child health among the least funded.
“Streamlining the health sector is the greatest challenge facing Uganda. The percentage of the budget allocation to health in Uganda has been reduced from 8.7 percent to 8.2 percent that is awful” says Njeri Mwangi, World Vision Uganda advisor on East Africa advocacy issues.
Even with external support, the budget allocation for the health sector in 2008/2009 was at 10.7 percent and 10.2 percent in 2009/2010 ten years down the road it is at 8.2 percent.
In 2001, African Heads of State made a commitment to allocate 15 percent of their annual domestic budgets to health during the special summit on AIDS, TB and Malaria held in Abuja. The Abuja commitment excluded external support. The budget allocations have been 9.3 percent, 9.0 percent, 10.7percent, and 10.2 percent in 2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010 respectively.
“Yes, it is worth noting that government health budget has gone up since 2010, but the Abuja commitment of 15 percent has never been met, and the percentage allocated to health has stagnated. Such has created a crisis which includes deaths of mothers in childbirth, stock outs of essential medicine and health supplies and shortages of professional health workers needed to deliver the national minimum health care package” says Dennis Kibira chairman HEPS Uganda
While government still plans to carry out a national health accounts study to trace all resources that come to the sector, brain drain is yet another loophole putting the lives of Ugandans on the line. The continued reduction in the number of doctors and nurses in relation to the increasing population makes matters worse. With an estimated 33.4 million people at a population growth rate of 3.6 percent per year and a fertility rate of 6.7 births per woman, there are only ten physicians per 100,000 people according to the UN Human Development report (2010).
According to Dr. Katumba Ssentongo, the registrar Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) there are about 3854 medical officers registered with the council including those who are in private and NGO hospitals but of these only 2417 are in active service. However, he reveals that an average of six doctors a week seek a certificate of good standing from the council, a requirement for medical officers to work abroad.
“It is worse upcountry. For instance, Nakasongola, Moroto and Kalangala districts did not have a single medical doctor at the time of the last census. Medical officers do not want to work there, they prefer Kampala and others go for greener pastures abroad” says Dr. Katumba
However, according to the ministry permanent secretary an estimated 2000 doctors and nurses leave the country every year in search of greener pastures as if that is not enough, it is also on record that it is only recently that government started refurbishing hospitals and health centre IVs under the Health Systems Strengthening Project (UHSSP)
Dr. Ondoa says that government looks at training more health professionals and is renovating two regional referral hospitals of Moroto and Mubende and seventeen hospitals around the country. Plus twenty seven Health centre IVs which will also be supplied with appropriate medical equipment and human staff.
“To facilitate operations in the 46 health facilities scheduled for renovation, 58 multi-purpose double cabin pickups have been procured. 19 of them were distributed in February during the launch of the Uganda Health systems strengthening project to 19 hospitals to be renovated” adds Dr. Ondoa
However, Dennis Odwe the program officer in charge of advocacy at Action Group for health, Human rights and Aids (AGHA) these are all good interventions and must be respected without which it will be yet another crisis leading to more insufficient domestic investment in essential medicines and health supplies for antiretroviral therapy and effective regimens needed to prevent further upheavals.
The health sector is yet to recover from the effects of the gross mismanagement of money from the Global Fund. With the limited resource basket, efficient use of resources is a key to attaining optimal results. What the country needs more than ever is the strengthening of monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure that resources are effectively utilized.
Dr. Francis Runumi, health ministry commissioner Health services and planning says that Uganda’s weak economy is the lead causative for such little unsatisfying allocations, “if we had money these issues would not matter but the share we get. Because of the little money due to a weak economy government then fails to fully address and provide preventive health solutions and instead stands waiting to provide curative means which in most cases are very costly hence spending more. I think the current way of prioritizing would work for us in the future because if you have a hospital with no power then it will not work effectively but as of now the health sector will limp on for some time”
Peoples’ lives have improved in Uganda, schools have been built and refurbished and at least 1.5 million mosquito nets have been distributed in the last one year but Uganda still grapples with health shortfalls posing huge consequences in addition to the staggering economy.
According to Dr. Asuman Lukwago, permanent secretary ministry of health, the health sector budget has remained stagnant between Shs 660 billion for the last five years and 790 billion in 2011/2012.
This has caused stock outs of essential medicines in the country and the maternal mortality rate is still high with sixteen mothers dying daily according to Dennis Kibira, chairman HEPS-Uganda a coalition for promotion and social development.
A report released last month by HEPS- Uganda reveals that while 55percent of HIV patients are co-infected with TB about ten Ugandan districts for six months have not had TB drugs causing a 40 percent death rate of the HIV patients co-infected.
Richard Kintu, coordinator Child Health Now campaign of World Vision Uganda says that about 16 women die every day in Uganda while giving birth or during pregnancy.
He adds that, “Maternal and child health is still a challenge in Uganda, every day at least sixteen mothers die in child birth. Uganda’s maternal mortality rate is at 435 per 100,000 live births which translate to 6000 deaths annually, child mortality remains high with 137 deaths per 1000 live births”
Gabriel Opio, former gender labour and social development minister says that, “Prior to the making of the national budget, all ministries meet and propose their budgets. But in most cases, their budgets add up to 150 percent; beyond the total national budget share of 100 percent and when we reconcile to 100 percent, we discover the money is not enough. So as much as we want to increase the national budget to the health sector, the funds are not there”
However, according to health minister Dr Christine Ondoa, infant mortality rate has considerably fallen.
“The number of children who die before their first birthday dropped to 54 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2011 from 76 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006. Also the percentage of women giving birth in health facilities increased to 57 percent in 2011 from 42 percent in 2006, with 59 percent of women in Uganda now giving birth with the assistance of skilled birth attendants” she says
In the 2010/2011 budget, the Government allocated about shs 260 billion to maternal and reproductive health. Of this, about shs 60 billion was to cater for reproductive health
In the 2003 African Union Maputo Declaration, member countries agreed to commit at least 15 percent of their annual national budgets to the health sector. Currently, Uganda’s budget share to the health sector is 8 percent, with maternal and child health among the least funded.
“Streamlining the health sector is the greatest challenge facing Uganda. The percentage of the budget allocation to health in Uganda has been reduced from 8.7 percent to 8.2 percent that is awful” says Njeri Mwangi, World Vision Uganda advisor on East Africa advocacy issues.
Even with external support, the budget allocation for the health sector in 2008/2009 was at 10.7 percent and 10.2 percent in 2009/2010 ten years down the road it is at 8.2 percent.
In 2001, African Heads of State made a commitment to allocate 15 percent of their annual domestic budgets to health during the special summit on AIDS, TB and Malaria held in Abuja. The Abuja commitment excluded external support. The budget allocations have been 9.3 percent, 9.0 percent, 10.7percent, and 10.2 percent in 2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2009/2010 respectively.
“Yes, it is worth noting that government health budget has gone up since 2010, but the Abuja commitment of 15 percent has never been met, and the percentage allocated to health has stagnated. Such has created a crisis which includes deaths of mothers in childbirth, stock outs of essential medicine and health supplies and shortages of professional health workers needed to deliver the national minimum health care package” says Dennis Kibira chairman HEPS Uganda
While government still plans to carry out a national health accounts study to trace all resources that come to the sector, brain drain is yet another loophole putting the lives of Ugandans on the line. The continued reduction in the number of doctors and nurses in relation to the increasing population makes matters worse. With an estimated 33.4 million people at a population growth rate of 3.6 percent per year and a fertility rate of 6.7 births per woman, there are only ten physicians per 100,000 people according to the UN Human Development report (2010).
According to Dr. Katumba Ssentongo, the registrar Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) there are about 3854 medical officers registered with the council including those who are in private and NGO hospitals but of these only 2417 are in active service. However, he reveals that an average of six doctors a week seek a certificate of good standing from the council, a requirement for medical officers to work abroad.
“It is worse upcountry. For instance, Nakasongola, Moroto and Kalangala districts did not have a single medical doctor at the time of the last census. Medical officers do not want to work there, they prefer Kampala and others go for greener pastures abroad” says Dr. Katumba
However, according to the ministry permanent secretary an estimated 2000 doctors and nurses leave the country every year in search of greener pastures as if that is not enough, it is also on record that it is only recently that government started refurbishing hospitals and health centre IVs under the Health Systems Strengthening Project (UHSSP)
Dr. Ondoa says that government looks at training more health professionals and is renovating two regional referral hospitals of Moroto and Mubende and seventeen hospitals around the country. Plus twenty seven Health centre IVs which will also be supplied with appropriate medical equipment and human staff.
“To facilitate operations in the 46 health facilities scheduled for renovation, 58 multi-purpose double cabin pickups have been procured. 19 of them were distributed in February during the launch of the Uganda Health systems strengthening project to 19 hospitals to be renovated” adds Dr. Ondoa
However, Dennis Odwe the program officer in charge of advocacy at Action Group for health, Human rights and Aids (AGHA) these are all good interventions and must be respected without which it will be yet another crisis leading to more insufficient domestic investment in essential medicines and health supplies for antiretroviral therapy and effective regimens needed to prevent further upheavals.
The health sector is yet to recover from the effects of the gross mismanagement of money from the Global Fund. With the limited resource basket, efficient use of resources is a key to attaining optimal results. What the country needs more than ever is the strengthening of monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure that resources are effectively utilized.
Dr. Francis Runumi, health ministry commissioner Health services and planning says that Uganda’s weak economy is the lead causative for such little unsatisfying allocations, “if we had money these issues would not matter but the share we get. Because of the little money due to a weak economy government then fails to fully address and provide preventive health solutions and instead stands waiting to provide curative means which in most cases are very costly hence spending more. I think the current way of prioritizing would work for us in the future because if you have a hospital with no power then it will not work effectively but as of now the health sector will limp on for some time”
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
SMEs must embrace joint ventures to win government contracts
By Brian Ssenoga
As the old adage goes that,"the larger stones do not lie well without the lesser” it is in this spirit that all Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must carry with them in order to win business from government which is arguably the biggest employer and has the juicy deals in the land.
Procurement experts say that that for SMEs to win business from government they must fight by all means to join big companies in joint ventures, because by teaming up with others small businesses can extend their market reach.
“If properly chosen and implemented, a joint venture can be a great method for a small business to get in on opportunities and profits that otherwise they would miss out on. Big companies know the tricks of scooping business, so for small companies to learn the same they must team up with the big boys” advises William Jjemba a procurement expert and director Inter Africa Multi foods ltd
He continues that big enterprises have a lot of information, resources and capability plus the long term credibility created within their line of operation thus by working together on the same project a small company obviously capitalises on the fact that it accesses new markets in the future that would be inaccessible without a partner
The web defines a joint venture as a strategic alliance where two or more people or companies agree to contribute goods, services and/or capital to a common commercial enterprise.
Sounds like a partnership, but legally joint ventures and partnerships are not the same thing. The main difference between a joint venture and a partnership is that the members of a joint venture team up together for a particular purpose or project, while the members of a partnership join together to run a business in common.
Thus each member of the joint venture retains ownership of his property and shares only the expenses of that particular venture
According to Stephen Omoding, a lecturer of procurement studies at Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education-Mengo, a joint venture can sometimes seem like more work than it’s worth due to the fact that it takes time and effort to build the right relationship and managerial problems are likely to rise if the objectives of the venture are not very clearly communicated to every involved. There is also an imbalance in levels of expertise, investment or assets brought in the venture by the different parties.
“However, all that can be dealt with and business owners who think in this style probably have a mistaken mindset to be in business in the first place. If a business owner is on the lookout for advantages, a joint venture may be in the cards and just the thing to create those merits, small companies have access to larger markets, access to technology and resources and also build credibility” says Mr. Omoding
As the old adage goes that,"the larger stones do not lie well without the lesser” it is in this spirit that all Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must carry with them in order to win business from government which is arguably the biggest employer and has the juicy deals in the land.
Procurement experts say that that for SMEs to win business from government they must fight by all means to join big companies in joint ventures, because by teaming up with others small businesses can extend their market reach.
“If properly chosen and implemented, a joint venture can be a great method for a small business to get in on opportunities and profits that otherwise they would miss out on. Big companies know the tricks of scooping business, so for small companies to learn the same they must team up with the big boys” advises William Jjemba a procurement expert and director Inter Africa Multi foods ltd
He continues that big enterprises have a lot of information, resources and capability plus the long term credibility created within their line of operation thus by working together on the same project a small company obviously capitalises on the fact that it accesses new markets in the future that would be inaccessible without a partner
The web defines a joint venture as a strategic alliance where two or more people or companies agree to contribute goods, services and/or capital to a common commercial enterprise.
Sounds like a partnership, but legally joint ventures and partnerships are not the same thing. The main difference between a joint venture and a partnership is that the members of a joint venture team up together for a particular purpose or project, while the members of a partnership join together to run a business in common.
Thus each member of the joint venture retains ownership of his property and shares only the expenses of that particular venture
According to Stephen Omoding, a lecturer of procurement studies at Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education-Mengo, a joint venture can sometimes seem like more work than it’s worth due to the fact that it takes time and effort to build the right relationship and managerial problems are likely to rise if the objectives of the venture are not very clearly communicated to every involved. There is also an imbalance in levels of expertise, investment or assets brought in the venture by the different parties.
“However, all that can be dealt with and business owners who think in this style probably have a mistaken mindset to be in business in the first place. If a business owner is on the lookout for advantages, a joint venture may be in the cards and just the thing to create those merits, small companies have access to larger markets, access to technology and resources and also build credibility” says Mr. Omoding
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
GLOBAL FUND CANCELS ROUND ELEVEN GRANTS AS FINANCIAL DOWNTURN BITES
The global fund to fight HIV, TB and Malaria has postponed the round eleven grant making process to countries like Uganda following a financial down turn which has forced donors to restrain from giving there money to the fund.
This came up in a recent meeting in Accra Ghana where the committee members realized the fund has been seriously affected by the financial down turn and thus effectively cancelled its next round of grant making saying it is unable to hand out new grants to countries for disease-fighting programs because of an acute shortage of money, but will support ‘essential needs’
Speaking to Daily Monitor on phone the ministry of health permanent secretary Dr. Asuman Lukwago said that Uganda’s performance is still below but suspension of round eleven does not mean that global fund has halted its operations in Uganda.
“To Uganda the fund postponed round eleven grants but has given assurance that in case of failure of government to effectively operationalize the program, it will give some little money to us up to 2015 but on the whole we are getting less compared to other countries in the region” said Mr. Lukwago
He also added that, “It is not only Uganda, but the fund in Geneva has told all member countries not to put in new applications for funding for round eleven. It is offering a transitional funding mechanism, which will allow countries to ask for money to cover essential needs. In recognition of the danger of stopping HIV treatment, this should allow countries to continue to supply drugs to people who are already taking them”
The fund has been waiting in vain for financial help from donors ever since its big renewal meeting in New York a year ago failed to deliver the sums hoped for. It wanted 20 billion dollars but only got 11.7 billion dollars. in spite of exhortations to donors to pledge more money from the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who warned that the stakes were high and that more lives would be lost if pressure on the killer diseases was not maintained.
UGANDA IN RELATION TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION
While other regional states get a lot of money from the Global Fund to fight HIV, TB and malaria Uganda still gets the least amount over what technocrats call mismanagement of the earlier grants about seven years ago.
According to Prof. Vinand Nantulya the chairman Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) Ethiopia got 1.2 billion dollars from the global fund to fight HIV, TB and malaria, Tanzania was given 1 billion, Kenya gets 800 million dollars and Rwanda receives 600 million dollars and Uganda only parts with a mare 300 million dollars.
He also attributes the cut in the funding to the earlier mismanagement of the fund.
“We have suffered enough and lost a lot. 300 million dollars in nothing. Tanzania has got one billion dollars from the global fund, Kenya got 800 million dollars, and Rwanda got 600 million dollars. Because they are using the money well and with proper accountability and results to show that money is being used properly. But now see what mismanagement has cost Uganda” said Mr. Nantulya, a former senior health advisor and chief advisor to the executive director of the global fund, Geneva for more than three years.
At the launch of the round ten malaria and TB grant recently at Kampala Serena Mr. Nantulya who is also the chairman of the country coordinating mechanism (CCM) a global fund oversight committee, added that Uganda also falls victim of slow absorption of some rounds due to delayed procurements and low responsiveness to Global fund requirements sighting an example of the first phase of round six of the TB grant. Which was for the long term institutional arrangement and the excessive caution taken caused delays and ultimately the under performance of the grant
“The application for round nine was unsuccessful and we did not apply for round eight and now the round eleven has been cancelled, ” he said.
However, he was quick to add that the signing of the round ten Malaria and TB grant worth 78.5 million dollars which is about 600 billion shillings is a sure sign that Uganda has opened a new page on which the global fund and the public must have confidence that things are going to change for the better where by with the new wave of funding, new strategies are already drawn to reduce the HIV, TB and malaria burden in the country by 2015.
“Setting up a solid CCM means a number of things to happen and one of them is that we already have two principle recipients, one is the ministry of finance on behalf of government and TASO on behalf of civil society organisations. We are also targeting to reduce the infection rate by at least a half, we must see the number of children born with HIV going down, we expect to see a change in the behavior of people which leads to safe sexual practices, we expect to see the leadership back in the fight against HIV as a way of ‘turning off the tap’. We expect to see a lot of activity taking place” he added.
ALSO IMPORTANT
2005 year of global fund suspension in Uganda and by then Uganda was on five hence missing round six and now round eleven
78.5 US million dollars received in the round ten grant to work on health systems strengthening, TB and Malaria.
2 the number of years the grant is expected to run while government negotiates another 130 million dollars to finance HIV/Aids interventions for the next three years.
300,000 Ugandans receive free HIV treatment while another 600000 need to be recruited on the program.
2.2 million Ugandans tested for HIV last year and of these 40 percent were re-tests.
Malaria transmission is perennial and highly endemic in over 95 percent of the country with transmission rates varying from moderate to high.
This came up in a recent meeting in Accra Ghana where the committee members realized the fund has been seriously affected by the financial down turn and thus effectively cancelled its next round of grant making saying it is unable to hand out new grants to countries for disease-fighting programs because of an acute shortage of money, but will support ‘essential needs’
Speaking to Daily Monitor on phone the ministry of health permanent secretary Dr. Asuman Lukwago said that Uganda’s performance is still below but suspension of round eleven does not mean that global fund has halted its operations in Uganda.
“To Uganda the fund postponed round eleven grants but has given assurance that in case of failure of government to effectively operationalize the program, it will give some little money to us up to 2015 but on the whole we are getting less compared to other countries in the region” said Mr. Lukwago
He also added that, “It is not only Uganda, but the fund in Geneva has told all member countries not to put in new applications for funding for round eleven. It is offering a transitional funding mechanism, which will allow countries to ask for money to cover essential needs. In recognition of the danger of stopping HIV treatment, this should allow countries to continue to supply drugs to people who are already taking them”
The fund has been waiting in vain for financial help from donors ever since its big renewal meeting in New York a year ago failed to deliver the sums hoped for. It wanted 20 billion dollars but only got 11.7 billion dollars. in spite of exhortations to donors to pledge more money from the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who warned that the stakes were high and that more lives would be lost if pressure on the killer diseases was not maintained.
UGANDA IN RELATION TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION
While other regional states get a lot of money from the Global Fund to fight HIV, TB and malaria Uganda still gets the least amount over what technocrats call mismanagement of the earlier grants about seven years ago.
According to Prof. Vinand Nantulya the chairman Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) Ethiopia got 1.2 billion dollars from the global fund to fight HIV, TB and malaria, Tanzania was given 1 billion, Kenya gets 800 million dollars and Rwanda receives 600 million dollars and Uganda only parts with a mare 300 million dollars.
He also attributes the cut in the funding to the earlier mismanagement of the fund.
“We have suffered enough and lost a lot. 300 million dollars in nothing. Tanzania has got one billion dollars from the global fund, Kenya got 800 million dollars, and Rwanda got 600 million dollars. Because they are using the money well and with proper accountability and results to show that money is being used properly. But now see what mismanagement has cost Uganda” said Mr. Nantulya, a former senior health advisor and chief advisor to the executive director of the global fund, Geneva for more than three years.
At the launch of the round ten malaria and TB grant recently at Kampala Serena Mr. Nantulya who is also the chairman of the country coordinating mechanism (CCM) a global fund oversight committee, added that Uganda also falls victim of slow absorption of some rounds due to delayed procurements and low responsiveness to Global fund requirements sighting an example of the first phase of round six of the TB grant. Which was for the long term institutional arrangement and the excessive caution taken caused delays and ultimately the under performance of the grant
“The application for round nine was unsuccessful and we did not apply for round eight and now the round eleven has been cancelled, ” he said.
However, he was quick to add that the signing of the round ten Malaria and TB grant worth 78.5 million dollars which is about 600 billion shillings is a sure sign that Uganda has opened a new page on which the global fund and the public must have confidence that things are going to change for the better where by with the new wave of funding, new strategies are already drawn to reduce the HIV, TB and malaria burden in the country by 2015.
“Setting up a solid CCM means a number of things to happen and one of them is that we already have two principle recipients, one is the ministry of finance on behalf of government and TASO on behalf of civil society organisations. We are also targeting to reduce the infection rate by at least a half, we must see the number of children born with HIV going down, we expect to see a change in the behavior of people which leads to safe sexual practices, we expect to see the leadership back in the fight against HIV as a way of ‘turning off the tap’. We expect to see a lot of activity taking place” he added.
ALSO IMPORTANT
2005 year of global fund suspension in Uganda and by then Uganda was on five hence missing round six and now round eleven
78.5 US million dollars received in the round ten grant to work on health systems strengthening, TB and Malaria.
2 the number of years the grant is expected to run while government negotiates another 130 million dollars to finance HIV/Aids interventions for the next three years.
300,000 Ugandans receive free HIV treatment while another 600000 need to be recruited on the program.
2.2 million Ugandans tested for HIV last year and of these 40 percent were re-tests.
Malaria transmission is perennial and highly endemic in over 95 percent of the country with transmission rates varying from moderate to high.
Monday, February 13, 2012
MORE MILLIONS NEED TO BE TESTED FOR HIV THIS NATIONAL CONDOM DAY 2012.
BY BRIAN SSENOGA KIMULI
While many Ugandans and the rest of the world are celebrating their romance on every February 14 as Valentine’s Day, the Aids HealthCare foundation Uganda Cares is marking the same day as the National Condom Day to educate and also remind the people about the importance of having protected sexual intercourse.
Currently, condoms are the only widely available, proven method for reducing transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during intercourse. Organizations around the world recommend condom use for the prevention of pregnancy and HIV/STIs.
BACKGROUND
According to Dr. Mina Ssali the public relations officer Uganda Cares, National Condom Day (NCD) is an annual health initiative. The campaign falls on February 14 Valentine's Day, an ideal time to encourage condom use when love and lust are in the air. NCD serves to remind people about the risks of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies, when people are celebrating romance, passion, love, lust and intimacy.
NCD was first marked in Uganda in 2009 by Uganda Cares in soroti. The organization with the ‘stay negative campaign’ wanted to promote the positive message of condom use while educating people about the need to practice safe sex. “Several organisations especially our partners around Uganda are now joining into the campaign to mark the NCD since 2009 with the message "say it with a condom", a nice way to say to a partner "I care about your health". The "say it with a condom" message has since developed a positive reputation during the merriment of romance on Valentine's Day” says Henry Magala the country director Uganda Cares.
He continues that, “Uganda Cares would like to remind people to take responsibility for their sexual health by using a condom during sexual activity. There are still many occasions where people are engaging in sexual risk taking behaviour. Some people are still embarrassed about condoms or they don't consider themselves at risk. The more at ease people feel talking about condoms, the more likely they are to use them”
According to Dr. Zainab Akol the Aids Control Program director in the ministry of health the purpose to mark this day is to Increase awareness and utilization of condoms for HIV prevention and promotion of reproductive health in the country.
“Most Ugandans know that condoms if correctly used can prevent HIV infection but fifty percent of our population are young people and few among them know the proper way of using them and even then among them, there are those who know who have failed to appreciate the condom. The day will be an opportunity to highlight the role of the condom in HIV prevention. ” says Ms. Akol.
According to Ms. Ssali, this year’s National Condom Day will be marked at Lukaya where Uganda cares is also launching a Test and Treat project where over one thousand people will receive free counseling, testing and also treatment of those with HIV will be given for free.
THE NEED FOR CONDOMS
According to Mr. Magala the country has for the last five years been importing from Korea an estimated 120 million condoms annually but compared to the needs and the infection rate and population growth rate this is still very little something that even Ms. Akol agrees to.
“We import about 120 million condoms a year but the consumption is high. A quick calculation is that every person has four condoms for a full year. The whole country is so lacking. Recently we received about ten million condoms from UNFPA and USAID but still that is not enough. That is also about a quarter a condom per a person” Ms. Akol Adds before saying that the government has no intentions of setting up a condom factory in Uganda.
A 2011 Uganda care report released last month show that offers treatment to 28785 clients in twelve districts in Uganda and of these 15838 are already receiving Anti-retroviral therapy treatments while 12947 are still on septrine.
Uganda Cares is a partnership between the ministry of health and Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) with a guiding mission and core values to provide quality HIV/AIDS care to those in need, regardless of the ability to pay.
Another report by AHF released in 2010 show that in that same year over 170,000 individuals received HIV counseling and testing from all the Uganda Care centers spread in the country and over one million condoms were distribute, including 43,200 on valentine’s day, 2010.
This year also about one million condoms will be distributed as part of the prevention package to all Uganda cares clients as according to the organisations’ country director. And the organization is still continuing with campaign to encourage condom use among discordant couples.
“The challenge is that young people today have not really seen the real bite of HIV but we still reach them through our partners who can reach them in schools, and communities. The need is still great in that area but we are not giving up. We also intensify other approaches like abstinence among the young people and if you cannt then use the condom” says Mr.Magala.
IMPORTANT
30 per centage of people using condoms in Uganda
Condoms are free in Uganda except
95 per centage of condom in prevention of HIV, STI and pregnancy
35, 935 people tested for HIV in the 2008 Uganda cares ‘one million tests campaign.
2009 Uganda cares hosts the National World Aids commemoration day at Nakivubo stadium. This was also part of the ‘Testing Millions’ campaign that AHF was promoting internationally. By the end of 2009 the campaign had tested 240,829 individuals.
2010 Uganda cares launches the ‘Test and Treat’ Campaign during World Aids Day in Masaka.
While many Ugandans and the rest of the world are celebrating their romance on every February 14 as Valentine’s Day, the Aids HealthCare foundation Uganda Cares is marking the same day as the National Condom Day to educate and also remind the people about the importance of having protected sexual intercourse.
Currently, condoms are the only widely available, proven method for reducing transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during intercourse. Organizations around the world recommend condom use for the prevention of pregnancy and HIV/STIs.
BACKGROUND
According to Dr. Mina Ssali the public relations officer Uganda Cares, National Condom Day (NCD) is an annual health initiative. The campaign falls on February 14 Valentine's Day, an ideal time to encourage condom use when love and lust are in the air. NCD serves to remind people about the risks of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies, when people are celebrating romance, passion, love, lust and intimacy.
NCD was first marked in Uganda in 2009 by Uganda Cares in soroti. The organization with the ‘stay negative campaign’ wanted to promote the positive message of condom use while educating people about the need to practice safe sex. “Several organisations especially our partners around Uganda are now joining into the campaign to mark the NCD since 2009 with the message "say it with a condom", a nice way to say to a partner "I care about your health". The "say it with a condom" message has since developed a positive reputation during the merriment of romance on Valentine's Day” says Henry Magala the country director Uganda Cares.
He continues that, “Uganda Cares would like to remind people to take responsibility for their sexual health by using a condom during sexual activity. There are still many occasions where people are engaging in sexual risk taking behaviour. Some people are still embarrassed about condoms or they don't consider themselves at risk. The more at ease people feel talking about condoms, the more likely they are to use them”
According to Dr. Zainab Akol the Aids Control Program director in the ministry of health the purpose to mark this day is to Increase awareness and utilization of condoms for HIV prevention and promotion of reproductive health in the country.
“Most Ugandans know that condoms if correctly used can prevent HIV infection but fifty percent of our population are young people and few among them know the proper way of using them and even then among them, there are those who know who have failed to appreciate the condom. The day will be an opportunity to highlight the role of the condom in HIV prevention. ” says Ms. Akol.
According to Ms. Ssali, this year’s National Condom Day will be marked at Lukaya where Uganda cares is also launching a Test and Treat project where over one thousand people will receive free counseling, testing and also treatment of those with HIV will be given for free.
THE NEED FOR CONDOMS
According to Mr. Magala the country has for the last five years been importing from Korea an estimated 120 million condoms annually but compared to the needs and the infection rate and population growth rate this is still very little something that even Ms. Akol agrees to.
“We import about 120 million condoms a year but the consumption is high. A quick calculation is that every person has four condoms for a full year. The whole country is so lacking. Recently we received about ten million condoms from UNFPA and USAID but still that is not enough. That is also about a quarter a condom per a person” Ms. Akol Adds before saying that the government has no intentions of setting up a condom factory in Uganda.
A 2011 Uganda care report released last month show that offers treatment to 28785 clients in twelve districts in Uganda and of these 15838 are already receiving Anti-retroviral therapy treatments while 12947 are still on septrine.
Uganda Cares is a partnership between the ministry of health and Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) with a guiding mission and core values to provide quality HIV/AIDS care to those in need, regardless of the ability to pay.
Another report by AHF released in 2010 show that in that same year over 170,000 individuals received HIV counseling and testing from all the Uganda Care centers spread in the country and over one million condoms were distribute, including 43,200 on valentine’s day, 2010.
This year also about one million condoms will be distributed as part of the prevention package to all Uganda cares clients as according to the organisations’ country director. And the organization is still continuing with campaign to encourage condom use among discordant couples.
“The challenge is that young people today have not really seen the real bite of HIV but we still reach them through our partners who can reach them in schools, and communities. The need is still great in that area but we are not giving up. We also intensify other approaches like abstinence among the young people and if you cannt then use the condom” says Mr.Magala.
IMPORTANT
30 per centage of people using condoms in Uganda
Condoms are free in Uganda except
95 per centage of condom in prevention of HIV, STI and pregnancy
35, 935 people tested for HIV in the 2008 Uganda cares ‘one million tests campaign.
2009 Uganda cares hosts the National World Aids commemoration day at Nakivubo stadium. This was also part of the ‘Testing Millions’ campaign that AHF was promoting internationally. By the end of 2009 the campaign had tested 240,829 individuals.
2010 Uganda cares launches the ‘Test and Treat’ Campaign during World Aids Day in Masaka.
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