The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) last week handed to the Ministry of Health of Uganda ambulances and essential supplies worth 1.87 million Euros as a measure to reduce health and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic. 

The procurement was within the framework of the EU-IGAD COVID -19 Emergency Response Project that was set up and has been implemented in all the IGAD member states namely; Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan and Uganda. The donations, part of a €8 million (UGX 35 billion) support confirms the EU’s commitment to support Uganda during such a long and unprecedented crisis adding up to €14 million (UGX 62 billion) already provided for emergency support at the beginning of the pandemic last year. 

On behalf of the Uganda government; the Minister of Health Dr.Jane Ruth Aceng and senior officials hosted the Executive Secretary of IGAD H.E Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu; the European Union Head of Delegation to Uganda Ambassador Attilio Pacifici; the United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms Rosa Malango as well as other key implementing UN partners and stakeholders to witness the handover at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala, Uganda.

The COVID-19 essential supplies include: Two advanced ambulances, assorted Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and COVID-19 test kits for Malaba, Busia, Elegu points of entry and exit as well as Adjumani refugee camps with the aim of strengthening the response against COVID -19 in the region and to be used mainly at the selected project sites and cross border areas.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ambassador Pacifici stated: Absolutely crucial is to recall that at global level, the EU also supports the rollout of the vaccination campaigns. Team Europe (EU + MS) with a contribution of over €2.2 billion (close to UGX 10,000 billion) is one of the lead donors to COVAX which is the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, a global initiative aimed at securing equitable access for all countries to COVID-19 vaccines. 

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