The Ministry of Health has received UGX 460 million assistance from the Kingdom of Belgium to fight COVID-19. The funds will support risk communication activities and COVID-19 surveillance.
Enabel Country Representative Christelle Jocquet while handing over the first consignment of hand-held-infrared, non-contact human temperature rapid screening equipment worth UGX 200M to Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said the thermometers will boost the country’s COVID-19 surveillance capacity while UGX 260 million will be used to support risk communication activities.

“The Ministry will use the equipment to monitor body temperature in public spaces such as buildings, health facilities, airports, commercial complexes,” Ms. Jocquet said. “Another batch of 400 pieces is under shipment and will be delivered soon”.

As the country gradually lifts lockdown and receives Ugandans who were stranded abroad, the Ministry has intensified surveillance especially at border points of entry including Entebbe International Airport, where the first COVID-19 case in Uganda was detected. Surveillance has also been strengthened at public spaces including offices, shopping centres, passenger service vehicles etc. 

Enabel has been supporting the Ministry of Health since 2015 in the Rwenzori and West Nile regions. Specifically, the organisation supported the Strategic Purchasing of Health Services in Uganda (SPHU) project supporting 83 health facilities build capacities of the Ugandan health system and the roll-out of the strategic purchasing mechanism for Public and PNFP Health Services. 

The Enabling health in Acholi EHA project is implementing the Results Based Financing (RBF) approach in 36 public and not for profit health facilities in Gulu, Nwoya, Amuru and Omoro districts with a particular focus on women, children and other vulnerable groups.

These projects implemented within the framework of the National Results Based Financing policy have addressed the health sector challenges of inadequate human resources, health infrastructure and medicine supplies to create demand and supply by encouraging individuals, households and communities to take their children to receive quality health services/vaccines on one hand and health workers delivering good health care on the other.