US gov't to continue supporting Ugandan people

Nearly 1.4 million ugandans receive lifesaving Anti Retro Viral, ARVs  through PEPFAR and over 1.2 million achieved viral suppression that prevents speading the virus.

This is contained in the 2023 US report to Uganda.

According to Mary Borgman PEPFAR Uganda country director, PEPFAR  launched its services 21 years ago in Uganda with a target of helping end HIV by 2030

"We invest heavily  in making sure that services are accesible in every district across the country, at community level," and that they are accessible to people regardless of who they are" These include key populations  people in prisons, sex workers, families in need among others ensuring people receive the care they need without any violence.

Launching the report in Kampala, the US Ambassador to Uganda H.E William Popp mentioned that the report is a sample of the broader work they do across the country with other partners and Ugandans. " We are doing work in the areas of Education, Health , Prosperity, Democracy and Governance among others"

The US govt  has over the years supported millions of ugandans across the county, to have healthier  lives, have better education, earn better in their businesses and  to generally participate fully in their communities. Iam personally proud of the impact this work is having on the lives of many",he mentions.

The report also shows that 2.5 million mosquito nets were distributed across the country in the previous year..

According to Richard Nelson USAID country director 3.2 million residents in 770,000 houses were protected from malaria.

He addss that 4,000 Ugandans were also trained for indoor residual spraying while 5 million malaria testing and treatment kits were distributed to different health facillities.

The US support saw 104 national labaratories funded and over 10 regional referral hospitals helped to switch to electronic medical records, boosting uganda health threats preparedness.

Sharon Daves, CDC acting country director mentioned that they continue to sponsor public health programes including disease detection and workforce development among others

"We have strengthened our Field Epidemology training programe in partnership with Ministry of health, Makerere school of public health and the national institute of public health.

This is a 2 year program that aims at building field experience with nurses, doctors , veterinarians who desire to improve their skills  related to epidemic responce and control.

CDC  has also introduced a shorter course the Field Epidemiolgy Traning programe which runs for 9 months,she adds.

One of our graduates is Dr Alex Nyabakira  who is now involved in both local and international assignments aimed at securing the lives of the population across.

"It is an in-service training where you work while learning and the plan is that once you are done you are taken up by the institution that hosted you. Iam now a fully fledged Epidemiologist and currenly supporting to improve urban health at KCCA and was recently incharge of handling the ebola outbreak within the city.

The training teaches you to be a disease detective and always ready for emergency deployment, says Dr. Nyabakira.