In a press release issued by the British High Commission in Kampala, United Kingdom is to provide Shs 9.3 billion (£2.2m) to international agencies involved in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
The funds will be distributed among the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) who are currently in a front of fighting Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
According to the statement, the WHO is expected to receive Shs1.6 billion of the package to help in the investigating and contact tracing of Ebola cases at the local level, support laboratory diagnosis, and strengthen coordination of the response.
UNICEF and WFP both expected to receive Shs3.8 billion to step up community engagement as a measure to prevent transmissions, improve sanitation, as the WFP fund will be directed used to support transport, logistics and storage for the overall UN response, including transportation of medical supplies and PPE, provision of cold chain equipment and supporting the establishment of Ebola Treatment Units.
The statement also reveals how the UK is already supporting Uganda in the fight of Ebola and therefore this is just an addition as the statement reads;
“A UK government expert has deployed to support WHO in Uganda, at their request, with expertise on case management. Others – including from the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team – are expected to deploy imminently. All deployments will be agreed with the Government of Uganda.”
According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Health on Monday 10, October, as of October 9, Uganda has 48 a cumulative confirmed cases of Ebola, 19 deaths and 54 cumulative recoveries. The country announced the outbreak of the viral disease, with a case-fatality rate for the disease ranges from 25 percent to 90 percent, according to the WHO, on September 29.
“The UK is helping the Government of Uganda and its partners in their response, by providing both funding that can help scale up delivery on the ground, and experts who bring experience of previous Ebola outbreaks in other countries. The UK will stand with the Government and people of Uganda in tackling this outbreak.” said Ms Kate Airey, the British High Commissioner to Uganda.
