AIDS and human rights activists fighting for maternal health justice in Uganda:

the value of real synergies

G. Mushabe3, M. Mulumba1, A. Russell2, P. Kwagalah1, N.N. Musisi1

1Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), Kampala, Uganda, 2Health GAP (Global Access Project), 3The

Bethesda Project (Uganda)

• Unlike most other sub Saharan African countries with mature generalized epidemics, HIV incidence and rising HIV prevalence (UDHS 2012)

• HIV prevalence in vulnerable populations 2-4x the national average – Including serodiscordant couples, MSM, sex

workers, fishing communities, migrant populations, women and girls

– Prevention strategies don’t match drivers of epidemic

• Interconnected epidemics of maternal mortality and HIV

Context: HIV in Uganda

Coalition to Stop Maternal Mortality in Uganda• Started in 2011 to advocate for an end to preventable

maternal mortality in Uganda • Coordinated by CEHURD (Center for Health, Human Rights

and Development) and UNHCO (Uganda National Health Consumers’ Organisation), with over 50 health, HIV/AIDS, human rights and other organizations

• Working in multiple fora (Parliament, Judiciary, the community, the media and more) to achieve policy change

Activists take maternal deaths fight to court

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Conclusions• Critical moment for the campaign and the Coalition– Appeal to the Supreme Court– Global pressure needed

• Strategic litigation is a crucial tactic in human rights advocacy; important need for stronger collaboration with AIDS activists

• Platform for complementary campaigns– HIV treatment scale up – Unsafe abortion – Monitoring and tracking health sector budgets– Health worker crisis