Archbishop
Cyprian Lwanga shakes hands with State minister Rukia Kadama. On his
left, Pastor Joseph Sserwadda, Mufti Shaban Mubajje and the Secretary
General of KAICIID Faisal Muaammar. PHOTO/Wilfred Sanya
First Read:
NOW THE EMERGING CHURCH CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST: PASTOR JOSEPH SERWADDA’S BORN AGAIN FAITH FEDERATION JOINS ECUMENISTIC INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2009/12/now-emerging-church-chickens-come-home.html
Pastors Joseph Serwadda, Gary Skinner and Uganda Pentecostals on the Road of Ecumenism : Christians to fast 40 days over child sacrifice
Multi-billion project to protect
children's health
Publish Date: Mar 18, 2013
By Andrew Ssenyonga
A multi-religious collaboration program aimed at reducing the high mortality rate in the country through survival and well-being of children has been launched.
The pilot program, worth 81.6bn, has its focus on children who die of malnutrition, and preventable diseases like malaria and diarrhea.
And its strategy is clear – using the power of advocacy, communication and policy formation.
Jointly initiated by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda with the cultural leadership in Uganda, the program will look to give information to parents about the killer diseases, advice on feeding and importance of visiting health centres.
It is funded by the King Abdul-Aziz International Centre for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) headed by His Excellency Faisal Bin Muaammar of Saudi Arabia.
The program will be implemented in 12 districts of Uganda that are hit by high rates of infant mortality. They are: Yumbe, Arua, Apac, Lira, Nwoya, Oyam, Soroti, Namayingo, Kaberamaido, Katakwii, Kami and Bugiri.
Launching the program at Hotel Africana at the close of last week, State minister for gender and cultural affairs Rukia Nakadama said the program is timely as Uganda is trying to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
The government’s target is to reduce the mortality rate among children under the age of five by two-thirds by 2015.
“The National Development Plan2010/11 to 2014/15 identifies child and maternal health as key national priorities that must be tackled if Uganda is going to transform into a first world country,” Nakadama said.
She underscored government’s determination to commit available resources to ensure that mothers and children do not lose their lives due to preventable causes.
The government official admitted that “this disease among children is a challenge” that continues to undermine efforts for social and economic development.
“Therefore, as government, we applaud the efforts of religious leaders when they come together to address these challenges,” she said, bringing to notice government’s readiness to partner with the faith-based bodies to improve people’s health.
The Arch-bishop of Kampala diocese, Dr. Kizito Lwanga said it is a challenge that many parents are not committed to immunizing their children.
“The lack of information and ignorance by the population of the country has brought this. No wonder, Uganda today is among the least immunized countries in the world,” he said.
The cleric, who is also the chairman IRCU council of presidents, said: “Today as we launch the program, we are aware that we are not beginning from scratch; some work has already been done. At this moment, I would like to recognize the contribution of UN agencies led by UNICEF for their struggle.”
He also commended the government for its immunization and other programs aimed at improving the welfare of children.
