Kampala – 20th February 2023; The Uganda COVID-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREEP) currently being implemented by the Ministry of Health is undergoing a three day midterm review with the aim of analyzing the progress and performance of the project. The project aims to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health emergency and preparedness in Uganda.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bank deployed over USD157 billion globally to support countries in their response to COVID-19. Subsequently, UCREEP was approved by the World Bank in July 2020 with the overall objective to strengthen the country’s national systems for public health emergency preparedness.
Beyond the direct health impacts of COVID-19, delivery of other essential health services was adversely affected. According to a study by the World Bank, Uganda was one of the 18 countries where essential services suffered the most significant disruptions due to the pandemic.
Speaking at the opening session of the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine noted that the total project costs USD 195.5M of which USD 137.15M (93%) was offered as a grant by the World Bank to support COVID-19 activities. “This project is important in strengthening and building resilient health systems to respond promptly to epidemics and ensure continuity of services” she added.
One of the key interventions in the COVID-19 response supported by the project was the introduction of mass vaccination against COVID-19. To-date, the Ministry of Health has acquired 8.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the Project; 6.9 million doses of Johnson and Johnson and 2 million doses of Sinopharm. This support realized at least 3.4 million people being vaccinated in the ongoing mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
Dr. Atwine further informed that although the project registered a slow disbursement rate of 3% in the beginning, this improved to now 50% and will get better as activities are prioritized.
Sighting the project’s involvement in the recent response to Ebola, Dr. Atwine noted that “deploying a mobile laboratory in Mubende improved the turnaround time, contact tracing and, surveillance. This was a magic bullet to curtail infection and emphasizing the role of laboratories in controlling infection.”
The project rapidly deployed close to USD 3M to support activities on surveillance and contact tracing, laboratory, case management, purchase of health supplies including personal protective equipment and Real Star Ebola PCR testing kits and reagents for mobile laboratories; among others. This significantly boosted the country’s capacity to respond to the Ebola outbreak.
The project is made up of five components including;
Component 1: Case Detection, Confirmation, Contact tracing, Recording and Reporting
Component 2: Strengthening Case Management and Psychosocial support
Component 3: Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
Component 4: Vaccines Acquisition and Deployment
Component 5: Strengthening Continuity of Essential Health Services
The four-year project will close on December 31, 2024.
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