As a developing country, health indicators in Uganda lag behind the rest of the world. Recent statistics show that life expectancy at birth in Uganda is around 49 years. Child mortality (death before the age of 5 years) occurred in 140 of every 1000 births. Total health expenditure as a percentage of GDP was 7.4% in 2002.
Uganda was hit very hard by the outbreak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in East Africa. In the early 1990s, 13% of Ugandan residents had HIV; this had fallen to 4.1% by the end of 2003, the most effective national response to AIDS of any African country (see AIDS in Africa).
In 2003, the Ugandan Ministry of Public Health has reported an outbreak of cholera in Bundibugyo district, with most cases located along the Semliki and Lamia rivers.[1]
Uganda is home to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) considered one of the most advanced viral research facilities in East Africa.
Contents |
In June 2011, the United Nations Population Fund released a report on The State of the World's Midwifery. It contained new data on the midwifery workforce and policies relating to newborn and maternal mortality for 58 countries. The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Uganda is 430. This is compared with 352.3 in 2008 and 571 in 1990. The under 5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births is 130 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under 5's mortality is 24. The aim of this report is to highlight ways in which the Millennium Development Goals can be achieved, particularly Goal 4 – Reduce child mortality and Goal 5 – improve maternal death. In Uganda the number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 7 and 1 in 35 shows us the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women. [1]