Uganda: We Need to Regulate Our Population Growth Levels
-All Africa News: November 22, 2004
Life expectancy in Uganda is 36, one of the lowest in the world, adult literacy is 64%, GDP per capita is $330, infant and child mortality rates are 97 and 147 per 1,000 live births. Maternal mortality is 506 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The country has a population growth of 3.4 per annum and a fertility rate of 6.9 children, yet every year, 1,000,000 are added. Despite the alarming growth rate, politicians are supporting people to produce children. President Yoweri Museveni said more people would provide a market and attract investors. He claims that countries like China, Korea, and Japan have attained economic miracle because of the skyrocketing population. Luwero district Chairman told his subjects to produce more children since the country has un-utilized land. But try to dig around vacant areas and you may be taken to court or even lynched by the owners.
At this rate, Uganda's population will double to 44 million in 24 years.
Uganda has foreign debt amounting to 66% of GDP and will require assistance to finance its budget and a high percentage of development will have to be externally financed. To create more wealth, employment and and industrialized economy, the population growth must be checked.
Thousands of acres of forests and woodlands are lost to development or agriculture and by 2030, there could be millions of cars having a devastating impact on global warming. Concentrations of carbon dioxide are now 28% greater than in pre-industrial times. Uganda is unlikely to meet its conservation goals unless the population can be checked. Every wetland has been cleared for settlement and the ecosystems are fragile. Air and water pollution, traffic congestion, habitat destruction and loss of farmland are the consequences.
As the population increases, personal freedoms from malnourishment, hunger, poverty, and diseases are eroded. Freedom to enjoy natural environments are diminished. To improve the growing imbalance between population and food supply, humans must conserve cropland, freshwater, energy, and other environmental resources.
A vital factor is what they refer to as "population momentum" that is directly related to the age distribution of the people. It is vital that political, opinion and religious leaders sensitize the public about the dangers of having many children. It is important to highlight the role of family planning plays in protecting the health of families, and the environment. Population growth drives deforestation, causes the pollution of air, water and soil, and results in the fragmentation of wildlife habitat, which forces many species to the brink of extinction.
Slowing population growth, protecting the health of woman and children, promoting democracy, and preserving our natural environment is crucial to the community.
In the high fertility projection, the population would grow from 26.42 to 36 million in 2015 and 53.7 million persons in 2025 and the population would increase by 32 million persons between 2000 and 2025. The country would have to increase its entire infrastructure for health, education, housing, food production and energy by 2 times just to maintain today's standards of living. The economy and services would have to grow much more rapidly if the country is to achieve its aspirations.
Currently, Uganda has 102 hospitals and 1,552 health centers with 25,628 beds, with most in urban areas. Accessibility to health services is poor. Currently, there is one doctor per 18,600 people, one nurse/midwife per 7,700. If the country were to achieve a ratio of one doctor to 5,000 populations by 2025, the number of doctors required would be 10,700 under the high fertility scenario and 8,600 with a declining fertility- a difference of 2,100 doctors. Uganda spends about US $12 per person per annum for health care, and if the national economy grows, the goal is to raise spending to US $28. Problems associated with childbearing account for 20% of the total and on average a Ugandan woman produces 7 children, putting her at constant risk of anemia, malnutrition, ill health and death.
