Health Ministry Seeks UGX 465bn For Covid-19 Fight

The Ministry of Health is seeking UGX465 Billion for COVID-19 intervention.

According to the Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine, UGX240 Billion is required for test kits and laboratory consumables, UGX100 billion for personal protective equipment, UGX72 billion for oxygen equipment and consumables, and UGX30 billion for disinfection consumables.

Additionally, the Ministry needs UGX12 billion for blood collection and testing, UGX7 billion for medical and non -medical equipment, UGX1.2 billion for drugs and medical consumables, and UGX1.2 billion for bio-hazardous waste management.

In an interview with URN, Atwine says the money will also be used to trace Covid-19 cases, receive returnees and purchase PPEs among others.

According to Dr Atwine, currently, there are 70,000 masks, 28,000 face shields, 15,000 protective goggles, 8,000 gowns, 56,000 gloves and 83,000 nasopharyngeal swabs, which are running out.

“If you look at the funding gap… for the next six months, we will need about UGX465 billion. This one will be for all the services; the patient care, the quarantine, medicines, staffing, PPE, testing kits. Actually the biggest component is for test kits,” she says.

The Ministry has so far spent up to UGX300 billion for the COVID-19 intervention since the broke of the virus. However, this money excludes support from donors.

The money was used to recruit 250 health workers, procure 109 intensive care beds, restored the functionality of oxygen facilities at Mulago and Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital.

The ministry also procured 38 ambulances which will be delivered in September.