Endorsed by: CARE Uganda, Medical Teams International, Plan International, Action Against Hunger, Humanitarian Inclusion, Save The Children, Relief International and International Rescue Committee
The launch of Uganda’s Health Sector Integrated Refugee Response Plan (HSIRRP) is an opportunity to ensure equitable and well-coordinated access to health services for refugees and host communities. The plan will translate the government’s commitment to the New York Declaration 2016 and the Global Compact for Refugees that urges society to stand in solidarity with refugees and share the burden of mass forced human displacements.
The plan represents a huge policy step forward for the health sector in Uganda with the stated vision, “to have a healthy and productive refugee and host community population that contributes to economic growth, national development and harmonious co-existence.” Further the goal is “A coordinated, integrated and District led provision of health services for Refugees and Host Communities.”
We commend the three objectives laid out in the plan:
- To increase equitable access to and utilization of quality health services for refugees and host communities
- To mobilize and manage of health resources towards building a resilient health system to cope with the increased demand on health services
- To strengthen governance, coordination, leadership and management of the integrated refugee health response.
At the same time, we want to emphasize how vital it will be for the international community to follow through with commitments. We call on all stakeholders to take note of important next steps:
- Donor support for this plan will be necessary both in terms of improved tracking of already existing funds as well as an appeal for new resources.
- While the plan addresses the minimum Health Care Package, there is a need for more emphasis to be placed on often under resourced interventions such as mental health, non-communicable diseases, and tertiary specialized care.
We look forward to a successful implementation of the Health Sector Integrated Refugee Response Plan with the promise of developing a resilient and sustainable health system for responding to the current and future health needs of refugees and host communities in Uganda.
For more information please contact:
- Dorah Ntunga – Dorah.Ntunga@oxfam.org 0774853745
- Emilly Niringiye – Emilly.Niringiye@oxfam.org 0779884656