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Posted on Categories Featured, General News 2 Comments on CREATIVITY: The Next Generation Solution For Life Saving Medicines In Uganda

CREATIVITY: The Next Generation Solution For Life Saving Medicines In Uganda

The celebration of World Intellectual Property day to day, provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the importance of intellectual property (IP) in the lives of ordinary Ugandans. Indeed flexible intellectual property laws and policies have increasingly become relevant in today’s discussions on access to essential commodities which are critical in an economy such as ours.

As this year’s theme [Creativity: The Next Generation] suggests, we need to highlight the importance of intellectual property policy, legal and institutional frameworks in ensuring an environment for creativity while at the same time addressing the potential of intellectual property to enhance the quality of the daily lives of the people of Uganda today and the generations to come.

The World Intellectual property day also offers us a chance to reflect on the opportunities provided by Articles 7 and 8 of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Agreement. Article 7 of this Agreement provides that the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights SHOULD contribute to the promotion of technological innovation and to the transfer and dissemination of technology in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare. On the other hand, Article 8 gives the countries liberty to adopt measures necessary to protect public health and nutrition, and to promote the public interest in sectors of vital importance to their socio-economic and technological development while formulating or amending their laws and regulations. This position was also re-affirmed in the 2001 Declaration at Doha that “the TRIPS Agreement DOES NOT and SHOULD NOT prevent Members from taking measures to protect public health.”

See full statement hereMEDICINES

Posted on Categories Featured 86 Comments on Contraceptives can reduce the number of unsafe abortions

Contraceptives can reduce the number of unsafe abortions

By Henry Zakumumpa

More than half of all pregnancies in Uganda are unintended and nearly a third of them end in abortion, according to survey results unveiled by Dr Charles Kiggundu, a consultant gynaecologist at Mulago hospital.

“Probably half of all of you seated in front of me today were not intended by your parents,’’ Dr Kiggundu told a fully- packed Palm conference room at Kabira Country Club in the outskirts of Kampala.

The study results released by the US-based, Guttmacher Institute and the Centre of Health, Human Rights and Development, also reveal that Ugandan women on average wished they had at least two children less, a phenomenon also called excess fertility.

On average, each woman in Uganda gives birth to 6.7 children which is high even by Sub-Saharan African standards. The study results are based on analysis of Uganda’s 2011 Demographic and Health Survey.

At the centre of the millions of unintended pregnancies in Uganda, is non-use of contraception.

Only an estimated 25 per cent of women in Uganda have access to modern contraception methods pointing to a staggering lack of access to modern and safe contraception.

One in three married women in Uganda had an unmet need for contraception according to the survey results.

“It is also a question of having less options of contraception,’’ added Dr Frederick Mugisha, a health economist, who maintained that Ugandan women do not have many choices when it comes to contraception.

Clearly, investments targeted at increasing access to family planning and contraception for women of reproductive age in Uganda would save the country phenomenal sums of monies spent on treating post abortion complications and having fewer mouths to feed, educate and would be kinder to the environment. If all Ugandan women had met their wish of having two children less than they currently have, the population of Uganda would have been undoubtedly impacted by gains in per capita income and a better quality of life achieved for millions of Ugandans.

It emerged at the meeting that myths and misconceptions about modern contraception methods causing cancer and fibroids is widespread and is a barrier to contraception utilisation by Ugandan women.

The traditional medicinemen have hijacked contraception education. There are several programmes on local radio and television stations that are misinforming many women on safe contraception in preference for crude and riskier methods.

Dr Zainab Akol of the Ministry of Health regretted that the medical profession in Uganda has ceded the ground for offering scientific and evidence-based contraception information to misinformed “medicine men” on whose inaccurate advice many rural and uneducated women depend for decisions on birth control and family planning.

Unsafe abortion and contraception is a human rights, public health, legal and moral issue in Uganda that must be addressed,’’ emphasised Moses Mulumba, head of the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development, who revealed that 26 per cent of all maternal deaths are attributed to unsafe abortion.

Prof Ben Twinomugisha, dean of the School of Law at Makerere University, emphasised that human beings have a right to enjoy sex and then when debating issues surrounding abortion, “the woman should be at the centre” of the debate.

Studies done by the Guttmacher institute show that there is a co-relation between restrictive laws on birth control and increased abortion. Countries, especially in Europe, which have a liberal stance on birth control have fewer deaths from unsafe abortions and spend less on post abortion complications.

Source: http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Contraceptives-can-reduce-the-number-of-unsafe-abortions/-/691232/1712464/-/13kqg7lz/-/index.html

Posted on Categories Featured Leave a comment

1.7 million annual births are unintended – report

By Patrick Jaramogi

Fifty six percent of the pregnancies in Uganda are unintended, leading to high levels of unplanned births, unsafe abortion and maternal injury and death, a new study has revealed.

According to the report; “The state of sexual Reproductive Health in Uganda” that was released at the Kabira Country Club, Uganda the worlds’ third fastest growing population (After Qatar and Zimbabwe) currently registers at least three million pregnancies  annually. The increase in pregnancies has shot up from 2.2 million in 2008 to 3 million this year.

“We have discovered that Ugandans are sexually active. One in three sexually active women in Uganda, both married and unmarried, want to avoid pregnancy but are not using a method of contraception,” said Dr. Charles Kiggundu a consultant obstetrician gynaecologist.

Kiggundu who was part of the team that did the research in the country funded by the US based Guttmacher Institute and the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) said Uganda has one of the highest recorded levels of unmet need for contraceptives in Sub Saharan African according to the new report by the Guttmacher Institute.

“According to the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, (DHS), more than four in 10 births are not planned. Unintended pregnancy is the cause of most abortions in Uganda,” said Kiggundu. He said the study also revealed that 50 percent of the girls in Uganda have sex by the age of 16, with the percentage shooting to 80 percent when they clock 19 years.

He said that out of the 3 million pregnancies registered annually, 56 percent are unintended (1.7 million), and 30 percent end up in abortions, while 14 percent are miscarriages.  He pointed out that even educated married women find it hard to avoid pregnancies leading to unintended births or unsafe abortions.

‘This epidemic of unintended pregnancy takes a devastating toll on women, families and communities leading to over 30,000 abortions annually,” he said.  Adding, “Investment is needed to expand the scope of services available to women but as long as women continue to have unwanted pregnancies, they will continue to resort to unsafe abortion.”

Dr. Zainab Akol the Principle Medical Officer Reproductive and Maternal Health department in the Ministry of Health who launched the report said 26 percent of the maternal deaths are attributed to unsafe abortions.

‘We need as government to partner with the private entities to up the fight on maternal deaths,” she said. She said more funding was needed to address the reproductive health issues that affect women.

Dr. Cynthia Summer the Vice President Guttmacher Institute said Ugandan women from all levels of society experience unintended pregnancy and thus seek out an abortion, virtually which is clandestine and unsafe. “But the level of risk varies depending on a woman’s social-economic status. While wealthier women turn to doctors, and nurses for an abortion, the rural poor women obtain abortions from untrained providers using unsafe methods,” said Summer.

Moses Mulumba the CEHURD executive director said Uganda’s law on abortion is much more expansive than commonly believed. “Abortion is permitted to preserve the life, mental and physical health of the pregnant women.  The current law needs further clarification on how it should be implemented,” noted Mulumba.

Source:http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/639732-1-7-million-annual-births-are-unintended-report.html

 

 

Posted on Categories Featured, General News, News 129 Comments on Application process for 2013 fellowships now open

Application process for 2013 fellowships now open

CEHURD (Center for Health, Human Rights and Development) invites journalists to apply for the 2013 intellectual property and human rights reporting fellowships. The fellowship is a one-year mentoring and capacity-building program for Ugandan journalists to report on issues cutting across intellectual property and human rights.

Purpose of the Fellowship Program

The CEHURD IP and Human Rights Media Fellowship Program aims to enhance the capacity of journalists in the mainstream media to appreciate the links between IP protection and social welfare, and the implications of the on going developments in the protection of IP rights at the different levels, and their implications for public health, access to educational materials, the right to food, and other human rights.

In 2013, the fellowship program will focus on:

  • The on going commercial law reform processes in Uganda and the East African region;
  • The on going dialogue around a possible extension to the transition period granted to LDCs to comply with the TRIPS Agreement; and
  • Alternative models for balancing the rights of IP owners and users, taking the case of the Creative Commons licenses and how it works for journalists and other information users;

Methodology

Successful applicants will attend a- two-day residential orientation training, and will be supported to identify and undertake follow-up activities. Selected candidates will be paired with a supervisor at the media house they are attached to, and linked with experts in the fields of IP and human rights who will provide technical guidance to the candidate to investigate story ideas they identify. The successful candidates will also participate in field visits to key organizations involved in IP work. The follow-up activities will not require full time work and will be supported through small grants.

Eligibility

Interested applicants should:

  • be journalists working with or attached to mainstream mass media in Uganda, including national (or East Africa level) newspapers, radio, or television;
  • commit to be available for the training, field trips and other follow-up activities between February 2013- December 2013;
  • Journalists reporting on policy issues (e.g. covering Parliament), and those with editing roles will have added advantage.

Application process

Interested candidates should express their interest in writing to CEHURD by email to info@cehurd.org with a copy to Primah on kwagala@cehurd.org

Applications should be sent by

Thursday 28th February 2013 and should be accompanied by the following:

  • A personal CV clearly showing qualifications, expertise and experience
  • brief information on the institution that they are attached to; their employment status and position; and any work they have done themselves related to trade, health, education or agriculture;
  • Confirmation that they are available for both the training workshop and the follow-up work.
  • Endorsement by the immediate supervisor/editor

Successful candidates will be notified by Thursday 7th March 2013. For details of this call please check here

Posted on Categories Featured, General News, News 102 Comments on Intellectual Property and Human Rights Media Fellowships

Intellectual Property and Human Rights Media Fellowships

Application process for 2013 fellowships now open

CEHURD (Center for Health, Human Rights and Development) invites journalists to apply for the 2013 intellectual property and human rights reporting fellowships. The fellowship is a one-year mentoring and capacity-building program for Ugandan journalists to report on issues cutting across intellectual property and human rights.

Introduction

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, which include inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images, and designs used in trade. IP rights are, therefore, the entitlements given to owners of IP, in form of patents, copyrights and others. These rights give the creator or inventor (holder of IP right) the legal right to prevent others from benefiting from their idea except with their permission. This protection aims, in principle, to promote innovation and creativity.

On the other hand, human rights principles and mechanisms require that IP rules do not stifle access to essential goods for the welfare of society, particularly in least developing countries (LDCs) with relatively lower levels of innovation. LDCs such as Uganda, are struggling to conform to new global standards of IP protection as prescribed by the multilateral Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).

Like other LDCs, Uganda is in the process of reforming the different commercial laws to align them with the TRIPS Agreement. As a result, the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act, and the Trademark Act were enacted in 2006 and 2010, respectively. IP-related laws still in draft form include Industrial Properties Bill; Plant Variety Protection Bill; Trade Secrets Bill; Geographical Indications Bill; Competition Bill; and Counterfeit Goods Bill. Each of these laws and draft laws has serious implications for human rights in LDCs, including the very existence of their people.

At the same time, the coming of digital technology is increasingly making it difficult for owners of IP rights to restrict access to their ideas and innovations, and complicating the enforcement of IP laws. CEHURD and partners recently launched an initiative for open access to IP-protected work for public use. These “Creative Commons Licenses” are a unique scheme that balances the underlying principles of copyright laws with the reality of the Internet.

Purpose of the Fellowship Program

The CEHURD IP and Human Rights Media Fellowship Program aims to enhance the capacity of journalists in the mainstream media to appreciate the links between IP protection and social welfare, and the implications of the on going developments in the protection of IP rights at the different levels, and their implications for public health, access to educational materials, the right to food, and other human rights.

In 2013, the fellowship program will focus on:

  • The on going commercial law reform processes in Uganda and the East African region;
  • The on going dialogue around a possible extension to the transition period granted to LDCs to comply with the TRIPS Agreement; and
  • Alternative models for balancing the rights of IP owners and users, taking the case of the Creative Commons licenses and how it works for journalists and other information users;

Methodology

Successful applicants will attend a- two-day residential orientation training, and will be supported to identify and undertake follow-up activities. Selected candidates will be paired with a supervisor at the media house they are attached to, and linked with experts in the fields of IP and human rights who will provide technical guidance to the candidate to investigate story ideas they identify. The successful candidates will also participate in field visits to key organizations involved in IP work. The follow-up activities will not require full time work and will be supported through small grants.

Eligibility

Interested applicants should:

  • be journalists working with or attached to mainstream mass media in Uganda, including national (or East Africa level) newspapers, radio, or television;
  • commit to be available for the training, field trips and other follow-up activities between February 2013- December 2013;
  • Journalists reporting on policy issues (e.g. covering Parliament), and those with editing roles will have added advantage.

Application process

Interested candidates should express their interest in writing to CEHURD by email to info@cehurd.org with a copy to Primah on kwagala@cehurd.org

Applications should be sent by Thursday 28THFebruary 2013 and should be accompanied by the following:

  • A personal CV clearly showing qualifications, expertise and experience
  • brief information on the institution that they are attached to; their employment status and position; and any work they have done themselves related to trade, health, education or agriculture;
  • Confirmation that they are available for both the training workshop and the follow-up work.
  • Endorsement by the immediate supervisor/editor

Successful candidates will be notified by Thursday 7THMarch 2013. –Click here to down the call for applications poster

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