By Jennifer Ehidiamen
Dr Specioza Kazibwe, an Ugandan Surgeon and politician, recently described ministries of health in Africa as ministries of diseases. She made this statement during the #GlobalPower Women Network Africa High Level Meeting that took place in Abuja, Nigeria, last week.
Click here to watch the video
The UNAIDS supported event, which was themed, “Accelerating the
implementation of the global and regional commitments for Women and
Girls, Gender Equality and HIV/AIDS in Africa; and the adoption of
post-2015 priorities,” had in attendance Presidents, Ministers, female
leaders, policy makers, advocates and other stakeholders in the civil
society and business sector.
In accelerating strategies on how to improve women and girls’
health, we need to better engage better engage policy markers and
address the condition of health system in Africa, Mrs Kazibwe said. In
her opinion, there are no health systems in Africa.
“We have ministries of health but they are not ministries of health.
They are ministries of diseases. What they are doing is (to talk to the
issues of) building hospitals and clinics, almost beckoning our people
to fall sick. We should be talking about health and health is made in
the home. That is where we should go for personal emancipation,
economic emancipation, physical emancipation so that we are able to
address the issue of promotion and prevention…”
Dr Kazibwe said promotion and prevention does not need money. She
highlighted her experience in fostering health issues in Uganda. She
also noted that leaders’ unwillingness to build on foundation of
initiatives limits continuity and sustainability of intervention
programmes.
To ensure the implementation of strategies to improve the lives of
women and girls, Kazibwe says policy makers and stakeholders should move
things forward by addressing the issues of identity, policy, use of
technology and next level of engagement.
On Identity, Dr Kazibwe says it is important for African women to
know who they are. It is very important to have a clear sense of
self-awareness and appreciation for the African culture to be able to
move things forward. Know who you are, she says.
And she practised what she preached when she spent the first couple
of minutes of her presentation talking about herself- her identity.
Dr
Kazibwe served as vice president of Uganda between 1994 and 2003. She
is the first woman in Africa to be appointed at an executive position of
vice president. She has been in politics for the past 26 years serving
at both local and national level- 3 times vice president of Uganda.
Looking at the issue of policies, Dr Kazibwe buttressed the need for
women leaders and CSOs to do more research that can influence policy
makers. She commended Mrs. Hana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender,
Ghana, for sharing a well researched presentation she made earlier.
On political empowerment, the surgeon cum politician says political
empowerment or women participant in politics is not about numbers of
women in cabinet or the numbers of women in parliament.
“I can attest to that because I have been there for many years," she said.
Kazibwe said from her experience, some women in politics
are reluctant to be associated with issues that concern women and girls.
"Among those many women, there are those that think they are too good
to be associated with the women’s cause,” she said.
Dr Kazibwe is optimistic that things can change. She suggested that those women who “ostracize” themselves from women issues should be engaged and synthesized because many of them have never been to women’s forum before. When they begin to understand these issues firsthand, they’ll be willing to get involved.
The politician did not miss out in reminding everyone on the importance of embracing technology to foster positive change.
Dr Kazibwe is optimistic that things can change. She suggested that those women who “ostracize” themselves from women issues should be engaged and synthesized because many of them have never been to women’s forum before. When they begin to understand these issues firsthand, they’ll be willing to get involved.
The politician did not miss out in reminding everyone on the importance of embracing technology to foster positive change.
“We
are in a world where technology is doing a lot…sometimes when we speak,
we forget that world has changed… we should use technology more…” She
also advocated for more women to use the technology that has been proven
to be of benefit to all.
The former Uganda Vice President wrapped up her presentation with a
call for more action, echoing the words of Joyce Bada, the President of
Malawi.
The next level of engagement is at the community level. We have talked enough, Dr Kazibwe said.
The Reporter
Jennifer Ehidiamen is a 2013 IRP New Media Fellow for International Reporting Project (IRP). She is reporting on issues of global health and development in Nigeria.
The Reporter
Jennifer Ehidiamen is a 2013 IRP New Media Fellow for International Reporting Project (IRP). She is reporting on issues of global health and development in Nigeria.
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Health is the functional efficiency of a human being. It is the general condition of humans body and mind. A healthy diet is one which helps maintain and improve health. To maintain the health, a person should avoid junk foods,alcohol,oily foods etc. The effort of the Nigerian health ministry is appreciable. They tries to improve the women and girls. They provide better services to maintain the health of the women and girls. When i was in Arizona, i suffered from severe diseases. I was go to the near by hospital and my disease was cured because the hospital provide specialty services. I recommend to those people who are in Arizona must go to the near by hospital.
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