Agenda Item 3 | Conference Room Document 61 English only |
second fao/who global forum of food safety regulators
Bangkok, Thailand, 12-14 October 2004
(Prepared by Uganda)
Table 3: Food Hygiene & Safety related disease burden in Uganda: Outpatient Diagnoses in Uganda: 1997– 2001
Diagnosis (All Ages) |
Year | ||||
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 | |
Cholera |
1172 |
17636 |
2614 |
2637 |
632 |
Diarrhoeal Dysentery |
82022 |
70192 |
54852 |
59915 |
77,606 |
Acute Diarrhoea (Not bloody) |
378457 |
369391 |
388570 |
403122 |
504,365 |
Persistent Diarrhoea (Not bloody) |
112471 |
116974 |
121633 |
117213 |
114,213 |
Intestinal worms |
733818 |
744917 |
784708 |
778463 |
1,235,399 |
Typhoid & para typhoid fevers |
8975 |
7053 |
6336 |
11301 |
12,194 |
Total |
1,316,915 |
1,326,163 |
1,358,713 |
1,372,651 |
1,944,409 |
Total OPD |
8,132,519 |
8,833,713 |
9,806,395 |
10,502,186 |
14,527,249 |
% of Total OPD |
16.2 |
15.0 |
13.9 |
13.1 |
13.4 |
Source: HMIS District Monthly Reports, MOH
** Numbers increasing annually due to improved reporting (timeliness and completeness) from Health facilities/Districts**
The Ministry has accordingly developed the following implementation strategies in order to address the food safety concerns:
The Cabinet approved the National Health Policy and Health Sector Strategic Plan in 2000. The policy seeks, among others, to review and develop laws that govern health services and health related activities in accordance with the policy principles and policy objectives. The policy:
This law is still in force; however, the National Drugs Authority transformed the component on Drugs into the Drugs Act (1993).
Uganda has established a multi–sectoral National Codex Committee in June 2000. This Committee is chaired by DHS (myself). A colleague from the National Agricultural Research Organization is Vice Chair. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards is the National Codex Contact Point. Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committee are responsible for implementing the objectives and activities of Codex Alimentarius Commission in Uganda
The Ministry of Health in consultation with key stakeholders in the food industry has undertaken an exercise to develop a National Food Safety Strategic Plan. The strategic plan is to:
This is the law in force that empowers health workers to carry out inspections of public eating-houses to ensure health, hygiene and safety of the workers and clients. The inspections focus on the hygienic and safety standards of the premises, sanitary fittings, utensils, workers (protective war and medical fitness) in order to minimize disease transmission. This Act is still in force and is an important regulatory tool for ensuring public health including food safety.
Collaboration between Ministry of Health and MAAIF is through the following government policy initiatives:
These are some of the Government’s Sector Wide Approaches (SWAPs) intended to provide a more coordinated approach to sector challenges. Both the HSSP and PMA provide sector frameworks of food security, nutrition and poverty eradication, among others.
A national Food and Nutrition Council composed of key stakeholders including MOH, coordinates these initiatives.
The Ministry has so far participated in development of the following standards:
The Ministry of Health collaborates with UNCST especially on food safety issues related to Biotechnology and Bio–safety e.g. Genetically Modified Organisms or foods produced through biotechnology. The issues of GMOs, should not be limited to only GMOs but to all Foods with artificially modified materials or foods resulting from other technologies.
On World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements related to Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Public Health issues that apply to international trade in food.
The Ministry of Health collaborates with NEMA in various food safety related activities e.g. to compile a National Profile on Management of Chemicals for Uganda and on Development of Environmental Standards.
This department is responsible for the development and improvement of water sources for communities. These sources have to be accessible, affordable and safe for the user communities. Though the mandate of the water suppliers is to ensure safety of water through “water quality control”, the Ministry of Health plays the role of an independent monitor through “water quality surveillance”. The surveillance helps the health workers to identify key areas in the water chain for tailored water and hygiene education to communities. Since water is a major component of food, water safety is paramount in the food safety control systems.
Training of Food Inspectors (Junior and Senior Staff) in Legislation, Policy, Modern Inspection Systems and Quality Management Systems
Target groups:
Food related diseases and incidents should be taken as a priority and addressed at all levels. Public awareness is an effective tool that should be applied for the implementation of laws and regulations to sustain food safety activities and programmes.
Complimentary efforts require a multi-sectoral approach to address the documented and undocumented incidences of food borne diseases through public awareness and training in order to:
Although food borne illness is recognized to be a significant public health problem in Uganda, quantitative data is incomplete and inadequate.
A centralized management information system is to be put in place. Districts and urban authorities should be supported to generate, use and disseminate the data.
This component is still not well developed. The main constraint is financial and logistical support.