Safety of Africa’s Skies prompts urgent Regional action

By Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

As aviation remains a powerful instrument of economic, social and cultural development and the war on terrorism continues to suck in willing and unwilling participants, Africa and the Indian Ocean region (AFI) is looking to strengthen its safety oversight capabilities.

This explains why safety and efficiency were at the fore front during the March 26-27 first African Indian Ocean Regional Air Safety Group (RASG) in Kampala- Uganda. This meeting ran back-to-back with the 18^th African- Indian Ocean Regional Planning and Implementation Group (APIRG) meeting.

“Even with the improvements we have seen in the region, one accident is always one too many, and the loss of one life, is one too many. The world has entrusted us with a noble mission, to protect the lives and well-being of the traveling public.

“We have, and must, continue to do everything within our power to make sure that air travelers get to their destination safely and unharmed,” secretary General of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Raymond Benjamin told the gathering.

Raymond recognized the efforts of individual states and industry partners geared toward flight safety, but urged for concerted efforts on a region-wide basis.

With this in mind, the Secretary General went on to say that ICAO’s Air Navigation Commission proposed to create a new framework for monitoring progress, coordinating actions among states and making recommendations to ICAO that would facilitate the implementation of the Global Air Navigation Plan and the Global Aviation Safety Plan and its associated Global Aviation Safety Roadmap.

He emphasized that the Kampala meet would offer Africa an opportunity to follow suit.

Benefits of the RASG will include increased awareness of safety issues in the region and provide mechanisms for addressing them.

“The AFI Planning and Implementation Regional Group will serve as a regional cooperative forum for Africa, integrating global, sub-regional, national and industry efforts in pursuing the enhancement of aviation safety.”

Admitting the region’s safety record to be wanting, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Managing Director, Dr. Rama Makuza pointed out resource inadequacies as well as the management and setting of priorities as the biggest challenges.

“An aircraft accident may occur from failures at the scene, but we also know that accidents in our industry are increasingly associated with some root system causes, largely linked directly or indirectly to the peak of the responsibility hierarchy.”

Makuza called for a budgeting that emphasizes high priority programmes and the holding of meetings at the highest representation possible in order to move forward faster and firmly.

Minister of works and transport Hon. Abraham Byandaala told PNS in an interview that Uganda is getting a US $ 15 million loan from Spain to upgrade the radar system so that it can detect even the military planes that evade the current system. Another US $ 15 million will be a grant.

The minister further revealed that he is writing a paper for cabinet to ensure that the country gets a national airliner.

“At the time of privatization, the reasoning was that Uganda Airlines was only getting funds from the treasury.

“But a new position is emerging. Airlines, the world over, do not make money but significantly contribute to tourism, the economy and general development.”

On the implementation of ICAO’s recommendations two years ago, the minister said that Uganda was yet to fully comply due to two major issues with CAA. The minister said that the first reason is about Civil Aviation Authority’s quest for autonomy. The second concerns getting a separate monitoring entity.

“Presently the CAA is monitoring those doing business while at the same time it is also engaged in business. This causes conflict of interest.”

The Kampala APIRG meeting, the minister observed, is reviewing and considering the status of implementation of Decisions and Conclusions made at the 17^th APIRG held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in August 2010.

“The Air Safety Group is on its part reviewing the regional, interregional and global flight safety activities including technical cooperation plans and programmes.”

The meeting comprised of ICAO Council Members, over 250 delegates from member states of the Africa-Indian Ocean region and international aviation organisations. ICAO is a UN agency responsible for 191 agencies of aviation. ICAO was at the meeting for mainly safety, security and sustainability reasons.

The Secretary General stressed that security is a global concern and that “if you do not dedicate a lot of money on security then you will not have flights.” He added that ICAO has proposed new security measures which include e-ticketing, e-passports and               e-identities in a bid to curb terrorism. This will make it easy to avail information about a passenger and identify wrong characters.

Religious Leaders pray for Women Advancement

By Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

Under their umbrella Organisation: the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, religious leaders gathered on March 23, 2012   at Hotel Africana in Kampala, to celebrate the International Women’s Day which is marked on March 8.

The chairman board of governors, Msgr. Charles Kasibante told the prayer breakfast that the purpose was to “use our own experience and faith to reflect on the year’s theme.” This year’s theme is: Connecting girls, Inspiring the Futures.

Msgr. Kasibante who is also the Vicar General of Kampala Archdiocese went on to say that the event brings an opportunity to pray for women’s prosperity the world over, and reflect on the achievements and identify gaps.

“We come together to share our faith perspectives on women and girls, and reflect on the achievements by women and girls and also find out what more needs to be done to enhance the advancement of women and girls. We can then make recommendations to faith-based institutions, government and other actors.”

On 9^th October this year, Uganda will be marking half a century of independence. Msgr. told the prayer breakfast meeting that this offers an opportunity to take stock of what the country has done in terms of women advancement. He said that education, health and gender-based violence are some of the concerns and challenges that need urgent attention.

Others are the participation of women in decision-making in the family and society as well as employment and social beliefs.

“All these have consequences on their health and wellbeing. We need to remove barriers to full attainment of peace, justice and good governance for women and girls in homes and society.”

Promising to always be at the fore front of influencing government and government policy, Msgr. said that IRCU is driven by a philosophy that is inspired and motivated by love and faith in the almighty God through service of humanity, especially the poor and vulnerable of society.

The Director of Justice and Peace Commission- Kampala Archdiocese- Fr. Cyprian Masembe emphasized the partnership of man and woman, right from creation, saying that “it is always man and woman to make this world a better place.”

Testifying before the prayer breakfast, Najibah said that she is one of the girls whose fathers think that girls should get married and be pampered.

“I went to school without using my father’s funds. It was tough. He was being true to the Arab culture. Fortunately it is also changing.

“We are lucky to live in Uganda which is a diverse society.”

For Bagenda Miwanda, the father’s input was instrumental in attaining her education. She was however full of admiration and praises for her grandmother.

“My grand mother penetrated all corners of homes and societies urging parents to send their children to school. Be it boys or girls.”

Society has a negative attitude toward girls who return to school after giving birth. Some parents go to the extent of calling for the dismissal of such girls, reasoning that they will set a bad example to others. Some parents simply consider it a golden opportunity to evade the responsibility of educating their girls who they look at as mere sources of property.

But Robbinah Nattimba received her father’s support to overcome her ordeal. She unwillingly became a mother at the age of 15 while at Ntake primary school. After delivering, her father returned her to school.

“Society was angry and tried to stop my father from educating me. I was already a mother. Fortunately the man who had impregnated me took responsibility and I am married to him.”

Uganda’s ailing Health System challenges Catholic Church's innovation

By Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

As Ugandans continue to grapple with a life-threatening health system due to neglect and corruption,  the Catholic Church has come up to devise means of ensuring that its medical facilities are up and running, providing health services that uphold human dignity and at the same time are self sustaining.

This was the gist of the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB) Annual General Meeting at Youth Sharing Centre, Nsambya from 21 to 22 March. Convening under the theme: Sustainable health financing: A call for Innovations, the Catholic Health Services Network was responding to the current economic crisis that has seen the drastic reduction in the amount of funds contributed by donors towards the running and maintenance of these facilities.

“Financing of health services through traditional means is becoming difficult. We do not want to lament but recognize these challenges and find a way forward.

“We need to change our way of thinking and working. Performance-based financing is the most likely way to go,” said Dr. Sam Orach the Executive Secretary of UCMB.

Dr. Orach revealed that staff turnover, because of low pay, was the network’s biggest challenge. He said that they spend a lot of money on training but that every time they visit the facilities they find that 50% of staff is new.

 “This undermines quality.”

Orach stressed that the difference between the Catholic Church health facilities and the rest is that “ours is a mission entrusted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.” Talk of a healthy body and a healthy soul.

Catholic Health facilities fall under the “Private Not For profit” (PNFP) health services. The Catholic Health Services Network comprises of hospitals, health units, health training schools, diocesan health departments and the health Commission of Uganda Catholic Episcopal Conference.

According to Dr. Orach, UCMB had by December 2011 registered 73 Health Centers II, 170 Health Centers III and five Health Centers IV. Hospitals registered with UCMB totaled to 30.

Sources of funding for these health facilities include donors, customers and the government. Donors contributed 44% while user fee contributed 40%. Government contributed a meager 16%.

“If government can provide more support, the user fee will be reduced. If not, our hospitals will find means to offer services and survive,” Orach revealed, adding that only 21% of resources is from local contribution.

With 31% of Ugandans earning below US $ 1 a day, health facilities are clearly beyond the reach of many. The demise of Ugandans has been complicated by the economic crisis pounding the globe, leading to the closure of many purses that have been subsidizing the health system.

To this add corruption, selfishness, incompetence and bad governance that the government is exhibiting and the fate of Ugandans is as good as sealed.

This scenario calls for urgent devising of ways that will enable the Catholic Church health facilities find means of sustaining their activities which are not profit–driven, but after upholding the dignity of the person.

Healthcare in Uganda was started by the Church. The Protestant missionaries constructed Mengo hospital in 1887, and the Catholics started Lubaga hospital in 1889. To date Church health facilities continue to hold the healthcare flag high.

 Mulago, the only National Referral hospital, has failed to give hope to patients; it has become a place of increasing their misery. Regional hospitals cannot provide basic medicines like panadol yet hardly a year passes without drugs rotting in government stores.

But all is not lost. UCMB is the only local Organisation pioneering initiatives in Patients Safety as part of quality improvement. The Bureau is developing a quality and patients safety manual. On the use of ICT, Dr. Orach revealed that enhancement of the project had delayed due to legal consultations.

However, all the health facilities are networked. Installation of the Video Conference is ongoing and the Annual General Meeting narrowly missed being the first activity to be held by video conference.

The Electronic Patients Register Management for hospitals is also being worked upon. The website is pending completion. Dr. Orach confirmed that the funds are available.

Commending the practitioners for a job well done amidst all sorts of challenges in the ministry of Christ, Bishop Egidio Nkaijanabo the Chairman of the Health Commission urged them to care for one another.

“As this Annual General Meeting comes at a time of Lent, get some insight from the Pope’s message which calls for a life of love and good acts to others.”

Bishop Nkaijanabo further called upon the health workers to avoid putting their institutions and the Catholic Church into disrepute by what they do.               

 On innovating options for the financing of PNFP health services, Dr. Everd Maniple – senior Lecturer Uganda Martyrs University- proposed “commercial activities detached from the medical services.”

Dr. Maniple proposed that the Network takes to research and manufacturing. Under manufacturing, he said that the Joint Medical Stores could start with generics and then go to research and development.

The other was the IT services like a healthcare database. He added that Ambulance systems could also be a great innovation especially in urban areas. Maniple further proposed that entering into Partnerships with big medicine manufacturers and advertisers could be a rewarding venture.

Maniple also thought of getting loans as well as ensuring better access to government funds.

But according to Fr. Emmanuel Katabaazi of Masaka diocese, the small health units should first consolidate their financial management, that way they will be able to sustain themselves without needing outside funding.

“Good financial management is essential for sustainability.”

The Secretary General, Uganda Catholic Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta warned the members against engaging in acts “that destroy the good reputation of the Catholic Church health facilities.”

Msgr. further urged them to “be truthful and ensure you are good stewards; spend on what you are supposed to do. When you fail to account for the funds received, you are simply saying that you do not need more funds.”    

Commending the Health Commission for being the most active, he too warned the health workers against being carried away by the income-generating projects to the extent of being diverted from their work as that would turn the projects into tumours.