Uganda Launches Community Engagement Strategy To Fight Covid-19

 

The Government of Uganda has launched a community based strategy that is aimed at combating the Covid – 19 pandemic.

 

The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt Hon Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda presided over launch of activities aimed at developing and implementing the National Community Engagement Strategy (CES) to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, at Hotel Africana Kampala.

 

This strategy is aimed at ensuring that all people in Uganda are aware, empowered and participate in the prevention and control of Covid -19, both as a duty and a right, using existing structures, systems and resources as deemed necessary.

 

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda commended the UPDF for its role in fighting the COVID 19 Pandemic. “Without peace and stability, COVID -19 would have found a fertile ground in Uganda to thrive. The current successes against the disease cannot be taken for granted and I therefore take this opportunity to thank the entire UPDF fraternity for working along with other partners to contain the global pandemic" said the Prime Minister.

 

He further applauded the President of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his foresight and visionary leadership in navigating the country through the global threat of Covid-19.

 

Uganda has so far recorded 97 Covid-19 death making it among the top 10 countries in the world that have managed to properly contain and manage the pandemic.

 

The World Health Organization continues to commend Uganda’s strategy of handling the pandemic since it has been greatly successful for a country from a developing world.

 

The Chairman Technical Inter- Sectoral Committee Maj Gen Geoffrey Muheesi commended Government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic.

 

“As we prepare to roll out timely and critical strategies, the fight against COVID -19 rages on because we do not yet have a vaccine or cure in this current circumstance. The vanguard of enforcement will be the village COVID-19 task forces (VCTFs) hitherto commonly known as Village Health Teams (VHTs).

Each VTF will comprise of a committed full time paid community health worker who will superintend over its activities,” Maj Gen Muheesi explained.

Professor Francis Omaswa, the Chairman of the CES Sub-Committee applauded all security forces for remaining servants to the people. He explained the tremendous achievements in the past months while fighting this pandemic and supporting disaster victims.