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UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RIGHT TO HEALTH BEGINS VISIT TO UGANDA
17 March 2005
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17 March 2005
The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt, began a mission today in Uganda, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Special Rapporteur will be in the country at the invitation of the Government from 17 through 25 March.
The purpose of the visit is to address the issue of 'neglected diseases', or infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the poorest people in countries like Uganda. According to WHO, diseases such as African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, intestinal parasites, leprosy, schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis (kala azar) affect mainly poor and powerless people living in rural parts of lower-income countries.
"These diseases cause terrible suffering", says the Special Rapporteur. "They maim individuals and hinder the development of communities." There is a lack of effective, affordable drugs to prevent or treat some neglected diseases, while treatment that exists for others has failed to reach marginalized populations. "These are human rights, and right to health issues."
The Special Rapporteur intends to address the national and international dimensions of neglected diseases. During his visit to Uganda, he will meet with representatives of the Government, including the Ministries of Health and Finance, as well as development assistance agencies and donors. He also plans to meet with people affected directly by the diseases in rural areas, including in the northern conflict-affected districts, as well as United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and representatives from civil society.
The Special Rapporteur will offer preliminary remarks on his mission to the ongoing session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and present a detailed report to the sixty-second session next year.
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For use of the information media; not an official record
The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt, began a mission today in Uganda, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Special Rapporteur will be in the country at the invitation of the Government from 17 through 25 March.
The purpose of the visit is to address the issue of 'neglected diseases', or infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the poorest people in countries like Uganda. According to WHO, diseases such as African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, intestinal parasites, leprosy, schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis (kala azar) affect mainly poor and powerless people living in rural parts of lower-income countries.
"These diseases cause terrible suffering", says the Special Rapporteur. "They maim individuals and hinder the development of communities." There is a lack of effective, affordable drugs to prevent or treat some neglected diseases, while treatment that exists for others has failed to reach marginalized populations. "These are human rights, and right to health issues."
The Special Rapporteur intends to address the national and international dimensions of neglected diseases. During his visit to Uganda, he will meet with representatives of the Government, including the Ministries of Health and Finance, as well as development assistance agencies and donors. He also plans to meet with people affected directly by the diseases in rural areas, including in the northern conflict-affected districts, as well as United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and representatives from civil society.
The Special Rapporteur will offer preliminary remarks on his mission to the ongoing session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and present a detailed report to the sixty-second session next year.
* *** *
For use of the information media; not an official record