SECTION VII: HEALTH AND WELFARE 7.0 Child Survival and Development Uganda developed a long term National Development framework, Uganda Vision 2025. Later the overarching planning framework, the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) that has a three year circle was developed. Overall these documents promote: i. Harmonious co-existence that promotes social inclusion and integration among the people of Uganda. ii. Effective governance through a democratic process iii. A healthy, well-educated society with a high quality of life iv. Equal opportunities, empowerment and economic prosperity for all. These, if effectively implemented, would impact on the rights and welfare of children as well. There are a number of complimentary policies and programmes as well. Emanating from the PEAP in as far as health is concerned, is the National Health Policy, the National Population Policy. Other policies that support implementation of health are the National Youth Policy, the National Gender Policy, the Basic Education policy for disadvantaged Groups, the Anti -Retroviral Treatment Policy for Uganda, the Universal Primary Education Programme the programme for Reduction of the Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission and the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA), (creates more income to farmers and uplifts nutrition), the Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC) policy, the National Child Labour Policy, the Disability Policy and the National Plan on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. All these policies are in line with Article 5 of the Charter and either guide other interventions related to health promotion or provide a protective environment for provision of other services. 7.2 Health and Health Services In line with Article 14 of the charter, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is making efforts to promote child health. Through Health Policy and the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) 2002, it aims at attaining sustainable standard of health for all Ugandans in order to promote a healthy and productive life. The key strategy in this policy is provision of primary health care especially to women and children, and consolidation of existing health services. The policy seeks more involvement of the community and the private sector in the development and delivery of health services. The health sector working group is also working through a concerted effort of all the partners to improve the lives of communities, especially children. Technical and financial support is provided to NGO health facilities in order to increase access to health by communities. Surveillance, immunisation, prevention of malaria through distribution of mosquito nets is also on the increase. The sector has introduced community health mechanisms to manage minor cases such as fevers. The village health teams (VHTs) are volunteers in the community trained to manage fevers, diarrhoea and other mild illnesses. They are equipped with a small contingent of non-classified medication and also trained to gauge when the situation needs to be referred to the health centre. These are volunteers who live in the community. 7.2.1 Orphans and other Vulnerable Children Ugandan communities have traditionally absorbed orphans within the extended family system. Recent reports show that one in four households in Uganda fosters at least one orphan by providing for health, shelter, nutrition, education and other needs. However, many of these care-givers are over burdened and often lack the socio-economic capacity to provide adequate care and support for the children. Community, faith based and other civil society organisations have stepped in by providing information, vocational skills training, basic 21