The United States Ambassador to Uganda Natalie E. Brown has handed over a modernised operation theatre to the people of Pader. It was refurbished using funds from the US people.
Amb. Natalie also has rallied the masses in Pader District to get vaccinated against Covid-19. She was responding to concerns from leaders who informed her that the vaccination rate in the district stands at 83 percent coverage of those fully vaccinated.
Speaking during the handover of a refurbished operation theatre at Pajule Health Center IV in Pajule Town Council, Pader district on Tuesday, Ambassador Natalie commended those who had gotten vaccinated, adding that she is fully vaccinated and had gotten two booster doses.
She encouraged those who had only taken the second dose and had taken more than four months to get a booster dose, saying covid-19 is still a threat.
Amb. Natalie said that the US government has donated about 16 million doses of covid-19 doses to Uganda and more support to have them distributed to the communities.
“Please get your vaccines so that we have more opportunities to get together again like this in our communities without the need to wear masks or adhere to other restrictions. I just want to remind everyone that Covid-19 is still a threat so get fully vaccinated and get a booster,” she told the community.
Tony Kujawa, the U.S. Embassy Kampala Spokesperson, said that the United States has donated 13,531,050 doses of Pfizer, 647,080 doses of Moderna, and 1,512,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson doses. He added that all the vaccines were donated in 100% partnership with COVAX.
Kujawa reveals that in addition to vaccine donations, the United States has provided further assistance to support Uganda’s Covid-19 response valued at more than $122 (446.5 billion shillings).
“In support of Uganda’s national vaccine rollout, the United States has provided technical and financial support in data management, risk communication, health worker training, human resources support, supply chain strengthening, and cold storage capacity,” Kujawa says.
Uganda started the covid-19 vaccination campaign in March 2021, but the exercise was met with massive propaganda, forcing many to become hesitant to take a shot.
Recently, the Ministry of Health said that majority of Ugandans who were fully vaccinated were shunning booster doses.
According to the Ministry of Health, only 10.2 million people of the targeted 22 million people had gotten vaccinated as of April this year, and only 59,542 of the vaccinated have received booster doses
Doctors attribute the low booster intake to the reduced number of new infections. According to the World meters’ statistics, Uganda last recorded 11 cases of covid-29 on April 20th, 2022. Since the pandemic was registered in Uganda in March 2020, at least 164,069 have been infected, 3,596 dead, while 100,205 recovered.