FOREIGN PARTNERS PLEDGE $34.5M TO BOOST EBOLA RESPONSE IN UGANDA, DR CONGO

An anti-Ebola advocacy van drives along Kyadondo road amid the Ebola outbreak and alert in Kampala, Uganda October 27, 2022.

DAILY MONITOR

At least $34.5 million (about Shs130 billion) has separately been committed by different foreign governments and partners for the Ebola response in DR Congo and Uganda, this publication has established.

The multi-partner support package includes $23 million (Shs86 billion) from the United States government, 8 million Euros (Shs34.9 billion) from European Union, $2 million (Shs7.5 billion) from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC),  and $500,000 (Shs1.8 billion) from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Over the weekend, the Department [of State] mobilised an initial $23 million in bilateral foreign assistance to immediately bolster each country’s own response,” the US embassy in Kampala stated on May 19.

The Embassy said this funding is meant to support surveillance, laboratory capacity, risk communication, safe burials, entry and exit screening, and clinical case management.

The US government said they were rapidly supporting the response by funding up to 50 treatment clinics, and associated frontline costs being established in Ebola-affected regions of the DRC and Uganda.

“These rapidly deployed clinics will enable implementing partners to establish clinical care and containment perimeters around affected areas.  Clinics will provide emergency Ebola screening, triage, and isolation capacity,” the Embassy added.

Information from Uganda’s Ministry of Health indicates that there were two imported cases of Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in Kampala, with one of the patients currently undergoing treatment in the Ebola isolation and treatment unit in Kampala.

According to the Ministry, both Ebola cases are from DR Congo, and one of them died in Kibuli Muslim Hospital on May 14. Up to 127 health workers and other contacts of the patients have been quarantined over the deadly disease, according to the government. Information from the WHO also shows that over 500 suspected cases, including 131 deaths, have been reported from the DR Congo.

Ambassador Jan Sadek, the Head of European Union Delegation to Uganda, said on Tuesday during a visit of the European Delegation to Uganda in Bunyoro Sub-Region, that they have channelled their funding through the International Red Cross Society.

This funding, according to the EU, will help address critical needs related to coordination, surveillance, infection prevention and control case management, operational support, screening at border points and logistics.

Ambassador Sadek said the fight against the Ebola outbreak should be done jointly and as development partners.

“We are following carefully with some concern, but we are also supporting Ugandan response, and we have just donated about 8,000,000 euros to International Red Cross Society to help on health aspects, surveillance, border crossing and so on,” Mr Sadek said.

The Head of the EU delegation to Uganda further explained that they also intend to give out flexible funding of 1,000,000 euros that can be used immediately by the Ugandan Red Cross Society to coordinate their activities during this period of Ebola outbreak.

“I want to call for teamwork in the fight against Ebola in the country, and you should make sure that it does not cause any harm to the economy of Uganda, tourism, and so on,” he added.

Africa Union

The Africa Union’s Africa CDC indicated that they have already deployed multidisciplinary experts, including specialists in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, laboratory systems, risk communication, logistics and emergency coordination, and “has internally mobilised US$2 million to support the continental response.”

“This outbreak is occurring in one of the most complex operational environments on the continent, marked by insecurity, population mobility, fragile health systems, and limited medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

“We call upon our Member States and international partners to stand together with Africa CDC, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the affected countries to prevent further spread and protect our populations,” he added.

Our reporter could not readily establish how much of the funding is being channelled directly to the government of Uganda, but there is already an indication that some of the funding is being given through implementers like the Red Cross Society.

Govt of Uganda

When asked about the funding the government of Uganda has put aside for the response, Mr Alan Kasujja, the Director of Uganda Media Centre, indicated the government is in control. He is coordinating communications in the Ebola response.

“These are Ugandans. President Museveni has been very clear that we are prioritising the lives of Ugandans, and we don’t need anybody’s help in order to save Ugandans. We will find the money,” Mr Kasujja said. “We’ll sort it out ourselves. If people are willing to come and support us, that is well and good. But in the meantime, we’re not waiting for people to come to rescue us.”