The World Health Organisation (WHO) African region has expressed concerns over the inadequacies of funds to respond to the current outbreak of the Sudan Ebola Virus in Uganda.
Uganda since September 20, 2022 has been putting in efforts to contain the virus in some parts of the country which a total of 141 cases confirmed and about 22 deaths occurred.
The country is however constrained in pushing back the infections due to inadequacies of fund according to the WHO African Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti.
Recently, WHO launched an an US$ 88.2 million appeal to fund the response in Uganda, and to support Ebola readiness in neighbouring countries but only 20 percent of the fund has been received.
To this, Dr Moeti in an online press briefing on the Ebola outbreak in Uganda on Thursday is calling on donors to respond to the current crisis before it escalates.
According to the Regional Director, the Sudan Ebola has now been detected in a ninth district, this one with a large urban population.
To contain a further spread of the virus, “WHO in the African Region has deployed 80 experts to support the fast-paced response, and assisted Ugandan health authorities to deploy a further 150, including over 60 epidemiologists,” Dr Moeti said.
MAP NEWS reports earlier that Uganda will take delivery of vaccine for the treatment of the Ebola virus which was confirmed by the Regional Director.
“As such, the expected arrival of vaccine candidate doses next week in Uganda is welcome news indeed.
“WHO’s committee of external experts has approved these candidate vaccines for inclusion in the planned clinical trial, the start of which marks a pivotal progression towards the development of the first vaccine against Sudan Ebola virus,” she said.
With the timely intervention by the Ugandan government, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Henry Kyobe Bosa, Incident Commander for Ebola outbreak, Ministry of health of Uganda did confirmed that the rate of infections the epicenter had slowed down.
On the other hand, WHO African Region is calling on governments in the continent to take action to avert a potential catastrophe by prioritising investment in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) strategies.
While the governments respond to the call the organisation says it will continue to raise awareness on prescription practices with health workers, an awareness of AMR with the public as well as push for government to provide policy environment on AMR.
Share this
