As the global
community tirelessly grapples to contain the spread of COVID-19, I am worried about
the fate of hundreds of thousands of urban refugees living in Uganda; a country
with an ailing healthcare system that is largely characterized by drug
stock-outs, shortage of health workers, limited access to health services and
limited coping capacity. That notwithstanding, Uganda hosts
approximately 1,394,678 refugees fleeing persecution, conflict, devastating
effects of climate change, and human rights violations from neighboring
countries such as Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan among
others. Out of 1,394,378 refugees, 66,464 refugees
reside in Kampala (Kampala central, Makindye, Kawempe, Nakawa, Nansana, and
Rubaga).
Non-recognition
of their status as refugees, especially Congolese demonstrates their unique
legal, social and economic vulnerability which threatens their basic human
rights, including access to healthcare. In addition, living conditions among
urban refugees are nothing but a dire representation of the stage already set
by the healthcare system; with inadequate access to soap and clean water, crowded
housing, and shared bathrooms reigning commonplace. Such a population is disproportionately
vulnerable to the virus and unable to practice ‘social distancing’ and ‘self-isolation’.
What then, does
the onslaught of COVID-19 spell for urban refugees’ right to healthcare
services?
That, the right
to health is universally recognized is without doubt. Uganda, being a signatory
to several international human rights instruments as well as under its 1995
Constitution, is obliged to respect, protect and fulfil the right to health. May
be most conspicuous in the circumstances is the international core obligation to
ensure access to health facilities, good quality health services and goods to
all without discrimination. In the context of urban refugees, this
translates into taking all reasonable measures to ensure that such people attain
their highest standard of health amid the spread of COVID-19.
Uganda
registered the first COVID-19 case on March 21 2020. Since then, there has
been a gradual increase in the number of patients testing positive. As of 5
April, confirmed cases had hit 52
across seven districts; Kampala, Wakiso, Kayunga, Masaka, Iganga, Adjumani, and
Hoima (2). Consequently, His Excellency, the President imposed a 14- day lockdown
in an attempt to flatten the curve and mitigate widespread of the virus. People across Uganda are urged to stay at
home, practice social distancing, avoid mass gatherings, and use of private and
public passenger vehicles is prohibited. These directives have left thousands, particularly
refugee women and unaccompanied children, even more vulnerable to the health
effects of the pandemic.
Such unprecedented
times remind us that pandemics like COVID-19 do not discriminate and that they
are borderless; yet, our collective health is only as strong as the person’s
next to us. COVID-19 is a brutal reminder that we should be mindful of
vulnerable persons like urban refugees who are at a greater risk if the virus
spreads given the conditions they are in. We should also make a reflection on
the overall living conditions among urban refugees in the post COVID-19 crisis;
the importance of ensuring sustainable progress with respect to social rights -
particularly access to healthcare among urban refugees.
Considering the transnational
health challenges paused by the virus, it is time for a renewed global
solidarity. A coordinated and aligned strategy across multilateral donor
agencies could be more effective to strengthen provision of goods and services
among overlooked populations like urban refugees to ensure that any response to
COVID-19 is in line with UN 2030 Agenda of “LEAVE
NO ONE BEHIND”. Therefore, UN
agencies, international NGOs and national networks should support robust
country-led community engagement and communication efforts to ensure that urban
refugees are aware of the potential risks of COVID-19, receive accurate
information, have access to health services and that health workers can access all
relevant supplies.
In the meantime,
the government has a duty to protect and promote socio-economic rights of urban
refugees. The duty calls for all key- stakeholders to place this vulnerable
population at the core of COVID-19 public health measures, strategies, and
policy design as to encourage them to stay within their designated residents to
avoid further spread of the virus. Such critical steps could include;
distribution of basic hygiene essentials (soap and clean water), tone down
restrictions on movement to ease access to healthcare facilities, psychosocial
support and dissemination of information in an appropriate format and language
on the nature of the virus, its prevention and treatment.
In brief, the
state should ensure that its COVID-19 response is human rights- complaint and
safeguards the rights of those most at risk in contexts such as this- we can
flatten the COVID-19 curve, only when each and every one of us is protected.
By:
Labila Sumayah Musoke
East
Africa Public Interest Lawyer
Initiative
for Social Economic Rights (ISER)
+256750009675
PHM
Uganda member
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