UNICEF calls for more funding towards primary healthcare

KAMPALA, UGANDA: The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the government of Uganda to improve the budgetary allocation for integrated community case management and primary education to foster social transformation.

The call was made by a UNICEF team led by the country representative, Munir Safieldin as the team appeared before the Parliamentary budget committee who noted that investment in education and health will bring huge returns.

Members of the parliamentary budget committee met a delegation from UNICEF to discuss budget and off-budget support to different sectors. The UNICEF delegation asked the MPs to ensure that sectors like education and health receive adequate funds because they are the backbone of the national economy.

UNICEF appealed to the government to prioritise primary healthcare, especially integrated community case management which they say has strong potential to avert the increasing burden on the health sector

Unicef also asked for a bigger budgetary allocation for social protection where the government is offering cash transfers for vulnerable groups like the elderly.

The MPs noted that the government has invested in peace and road infrastructure which are indirectly contributing to the social welfare of many Ugandans. They also questioned why donor support is continuously declining.

UNICEF is a part of the UN agencies that support developing countries but there are concerns on how countries like Uganda have used the funds.

While the committee heard the pleas of these donors, the deputy committee chairperson said that nothing can be done until next year, given the country’s constrained resource envelope for the 2023/2024 financial year.