Joshua Nahamya
Kampala
The Government of Sweden has today announced new funding to UNICEF to respond to the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda.
The US$2 million [about Shs 7.3 billion] contribution will be utilized by UNICEF over five months to support the immediate priorities of the Government of Uganda’s national Sudan EVD plan with a focus on Kampala, its five political divisions, and the districts of Mbale and Jinja.
UNICEF will also collaborate with the government and partners to intensify targeted Risk Communication and Community Engagements to ensure that communities are aware of Ebola prevention measures recognize signs and symptoms and can seek early care and/or report suspected cases to interrupt transmission in communities.
The focus of the response will include activities on intensified sustained risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and other needs such as nutrition mental health, and psychosocial support.
A total of 8.1 million people are expected to benefit, both directly and indirectly, from the interventions.
With this funding, UNICEF together with the Ministry of Health and other partners will strengthen efforts to sustain coordination efforts at the sub-national level and prevent the spread of EVD.
Benjamin Dousa, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade revealed the new funding during the visit to Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala on Monday, where UNICEF is contributing to the delivery of quality maternal and newborn care health services with funding from Sweden.
“Sweden has supported responses to previous outbreaks of Ebola in Uganda. We are glad to partner with UNICEF to again provide critical support to the response to the on-going outbreak in Uganda. Sweden’s contribution will strengthen the Government of Uganda and local systems at national, sub national and community level for timely prevention and response,” Dousa said.
The UNICEF Representative to Uganda, Dr. Robin Nandy, thanked the Government of Sweden for the new funding and sustained relationship over the years which have contributed to building stronger health systems and ending preventable deaths, especially of children and mothers in Uganda.
He particularly thanked the Government of Sweden for supporting emergency responses, including during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including mass vaccinations, reopening of schools and the re-entry of pregnant and teenage mothers to school.
”With the Swedish Government funding, our critical support to the Government of Uganda’s response plan will be strengthened. We believe that a sustained integrated response will result in the containment of the outbreak, saving the lives of children, women and their families,” Dr. Nandy said.
UNICEF, the United Nations Agency for Children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the most challenging places to reach.
“Together, we are ensuring health for every child, their families, and communities in Uganda,” Nandy noted
UNICEF contributions in the ongoing national Sudan EVD plan include:
· Supporting the establishment of emergency treatment and isolation units in Mulago National Referral Hospital and Mbale City which provide immediate life-saving treatment and care for Ebola patients.
· Supporting the initial provision of food and milk for affected children in the Mulago emergency treatment unit.
· Provision of critical support for risk communication and community engagement activities
· Support vaccination rollout
· Provision of lifesaving supplies.
· Co-chairing the Ministry of Health Risk Communication and Social Mobilization pillar.
· Co-chairing the Continuity of Essential Health Services pillar.
· Supporting 15 locum staff at Mulago National Referral Hospital to ensure continued delivery of health services and care for Ebola patients.
· Distributing hand washing units and liquid soap in the two Ebola treatment and isolation units.
· Rehabilitation of the water supply system in Mbale Ebola Isolation Centre.
· Provision of mental health and psychosocial support to children in isolation centers and supported reintegration in communities.
