UGANDA – Uganda has received three generators worth UGX571,220,522 (US$154,537) from the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure steady supply of power for the oxygen plants and medical response in regional referral hospitals.
The generators provided seek to boost oxygen supply to address the oxygen scarcity in many referral hospitals at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to a rapid rise in the number of people in need of oxygen.
The new hospital emergency power generators were purchased with financial support from the Government of Denmark through Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) to the Ugandan Ministry of Health to improve oxygen supply in Gulu, Jinja and Kabale Regional Referral Hospitals
The procured generators will improve electricity supply to the Regional Referral Hospital’s sensitive units in case of power outages and effective response to the need for stable and uninterrupted power supply faced by the units.
The generators will also bridge the power supply gaps that have been affecting health service deliveries in these regional hospitals strengthening the health service institutions in Uganda.
Moreover, provision of the generators is in line with WHO’s mission to support the country in response to health emergencies as well as building a resilient health system that is able to withstand shocks to ensure continuity of essential health services.
The WHO country office in Uganda also played a pivotal role in supporting the national emergency response and providing technical guidance on COVID-19 since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020.
Ugandan Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said acknowledged WHO and DANIDA for their continued support in the implementation of the Resurgence Response Plan along with contribution towards improved access to health services for people living in Uganda.
Dr Ruth revealed that Uganda developed and launched the national Resurgence Response Plan 2021/2022 in line with global guidance and the revised WHO COVID-19 Strategic preparedness and response plan.
“The plan provides a framework for a robust response to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 resurgence and to strengthen sustainable structures for emergency response in the country,” she added.
Subsequently, WHO counts on the stewardship of the Ministry of Health to ensure continuous supply of fuel and maintenance of the generators in order to meet the current and future medical oxygen needs in the identified hospitals.
Earlier, Uganda partnered with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to inaugurate a new oxygen production plant at the Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital to expand access to life-saving oxygen.
NICEF Uganda also received over US$708,000 from the United Kingdom in 2021 for COVID-19 support including increasing oxygen production and delivery as well as improving the availability of Personal Protective Equipment at selected health facilities.
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