The capacity of Ugandans to demand for their health rights is still limited due to inadequate awareness resulting from limited availability of the requisite information which translates into poor health indices. Starting January 2016, CEHURD in collaboration with PATH under the Access to Better Health (ABH) project embarked on a series of activities aimed at creating awareness among Ugandans in regards to their right to health. These rights are stated in a document that is known as the Patients’ Charter.

 

The Patients Charter is a result of joint effort by Ministry of Health in partnership with Civil Society Organizations led by the Uganda National Health Consumers Organization (UNHCO). The objective of this charter is to empower health consumers to demand high quality health care, to promote the rights of patients and to improve the quality of life of all Ugandans and finally eradicate poverty nationwide. This charter provides a basis for a legal and regulatory framework in health that contributes to improved capacity for quality health care.

 

CEHURD embarked on a series of radio and television talk shows discussing various articles under this charter. Some of these included the patients’ right to redress, the right to access to information, the right to a healthy and safe environment and the right to consent, among others. These patients’ rights were discussed on a number of stations like Radio One, Radio Simba, Radio Suubi, Akaboozi Radio, NTV, Bukedde TV, and CBS Radio among others; on both English and Luganda programs.

 

During these shows,we realized that majority of  Ugandans were not aware of this document called the Patients Charter that defines the rights and responsibilities of patients in Uganda,they were not aware that health service delivery is more than physical treament and that it also relates to other determinants of the right to health. Furthermore,citizens are not aware that they have a right to lodge a complaint of any health rights violation to the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Coucil or the courts of law for a redress.

 

On the bright side, we managed to reach a large audience across the country and helped in educating and sensitizing them in their rights as patients. These shows will go on for the next couple of months during which CEHURD will continue in its mission to advance health rights for vulnerable communites and the Ugandan society at large.

 

On the 10th day of October 2010, Ms. Anguko Jennifer, a former district councilor lost her life at Arua Regional Referral Hospital. The late Anguko died during labour after a 16 hour wait at the hospital without medical attention from the hospital. This resulted into the rapture of her uterus and subsequent death of both the mother and her unborn child.
In its efforts to contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality in Uganda, the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), together with the husband of the deceased, Mr. Inziku Valente filed a petition in the Constitutional Court seeking declarations that; the death of expectant mothers resulting from non-provision of maternal health care packages is violation of the right to life and the failure of doctors, midwives, nurses and government to take the required essential care during ante-natal, delivery and post natal is a violation of right to health, among others. The medical report on the death of Jennifer Anguko indicated that some of the possible causes of her death included inadequate staffing, lack of basic Essential Maternal Health Commodities and poor communication and coordination within the hospital.
Jennifer’s death is just one of the many avoidable deaths occurring in Uganda. Different efforts were taken to ensure the deceased’s passing is accounted for, and the Ministry of Health intervened by demanding that the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioner’s Council (UMDPC) accounts on the matter, which followed an inquiry into the matter on 7th May 2012 at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.
Following this, on the 29th of January 2016, the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioner’s Council gave its stand regarding the death of Ms. Anguko Jennifer. The UMDPC found that there was indeed a delay in intervention at the hospital among others and that this led to the death of the patient and therefore issued a stern caution to the hospital director and also asserted that the issues concerning the nurses and midwives had been brought to the attention of the nurses’ council for further action.
This decision reflects all the efforts made by all parties concerned and goes a long way in the fight for justice for victims of health rights violations