Uganda's Leadership and Policy in HIV/AIDS Fight

There is a question of leadership behind every problem -be it personal, family or community. But, also, behind every success, there will be a leadership to laud. People will always consider any matter as requiring spiritual intervention or explanation only if humanity has failed. Also, because of that, the quest for spirituality and spiritual businesses will too prevail.

No wonder countries with grave human rights violations and autocratic rule will so much characterize search for spiritual intervention and comfort. Where hope for change is deem, people there will consider living in the spiritual world as the only answer, as the leadership too opts for the same strategy to survive.

As long as the approach, either way, remains, life will too remain the same -in terms of autocracy and continued fixing of heads into the sand in the name of taking refugee -by living in spiritual world. It can be, as well, noted that where there is citizenship dignity, democratic governance, predictable yet transition of power and other events -of social, economic, cultural and environmental nature; there will be distinctive sense of self and community-centered programs for healthy transition into the future and intergenerational benefit.

Leadership will be needed amidst crises and development needs through comprehensive active planning, nation health analysis and policy or decision making. It does not end there, but go as far as popularizing its policies, making enabling laws and persuading its citizens to support them.

The same would apply at individual level -where someone must empower himself or herself with knowledge and skills for self-transformation and certainty of the future. This generates confidence, and can go to the level of advocacy and creating mass awareness for national development.

To achieve success from the efforts of both government and its citizens, there must be an interdependent outlook -where government is indeed for the people and people for governance. The same can apply in organizational or institutional management.

The health sector is not independent in its requirement for proper leadership and effective services management. However, much of the input from the leadership has tended to be moral and less of tangible ones. Much efforts have been exerted on research rather than management of findings and integrating recommendation into the health management system -to tangible outcomes.

Accountability, on the other hand, must be ensured and demanded as per the health legislation -where mismanagement is punishable by taking back funds where it belongs, cancellation of operation license, suspension of culprits out of the health business and imprisonment (minimum of six years). In some areas, execution serves best, but in a fair case as considerable, the earlier weight of punishment can be effective.

According to the Uganda HIV and AIDS Sero-Behavioral Survey, the number of people living with HIV is higher in urban areas (10.1% prevalence) than rural areas (5.7%); it is also higher among women (7.5%) than men (5.0%). It is feared that HIV prevalence in Uganda may be rising again; at best it has reached a plateau where the number of new HIV infections matches the number of AIDS-related deaths. Who should explain that?

Organizations operating in the sector are failing to provide adequate care to the increasing number of clients knocking their office doors for help, while government, on the other hand, is failing to offer sustainable support to the HIV/AIDS programs. Access to drugs continues to be a limitations over years -without a solutions and worsened by the slow or no supply chain. Who then should the HIV/AIDS infected and affected people turn to?

If the leadership can get it roles right, then the behavior change communication will be strengthened; organizations would ensure heightened advocacy for positive change, the “people's” parliament would be actively involved, massive activism for positive change would prevail and the media would be actively involved.


Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analysis
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com