By Ezaruku Draku Franklin

The Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Rochelle Walensky, has lauded the partnership between the US government and Uganda in health and other medical fields, noting that it has benefitted the people of Uganda.

Dr Walnesky who has been on official visit Uganda from July 27-30 to examine U.S. and Uganda collaboration to protect both countries’ populations from disease threats said her visit demonstrates the continued importance of U.S.-Ugandan partnership in advancing global health security.

“The CDC values the long and close partnership it maintains with Uganda’s Ministry of Health and our many strong partners, like the Infectious Disease Institute, Baylor Uganda, the Uganda Virus Research Institute, The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), and many more,” Dr. Walensky said.

She met with Government of Uganda counterparts and visited partners working on HIV service delivery, public health workforce development, public health emergency response, and global health security, among others.  She interacted with some of the talented women making advancing in medicine and public health, and setting an example on the importance of STEM education for girls and young women. 

She also visited the Mpondwe border area where, through technical collaboration CDC, District, and National along with World Health Organization (WHO) public health officials were able to identify Ebola virus spill over cases that occurred in 2019 and successfully prevent community spread in Uganda.

U.S. Ambassador to Uganda Natalie E. Brown said this is a clear example where Uganda and US partnerships have delivered to the people of Uganda and said her home government will continue to support Uganda’s health sector through both technical and financial support.

 “The U.S. Mission could not be prouder of the results of the over 30-year collaboration between the CDC and Uganda Ministry of Health.  Dedicated Ugandan health leaders, with the combined support from the CDC, collaborating U.S. agencies, and local partners, have saved lives and prevented infections in Uganda,”

She said the CDC, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), supports more than 700,000 Ugandans living with HIV to receive free care and treatment services. 

“This collaboration has made substantial gains in strengthening health systems, advancing science-based public health initiatives, and enhancing capacity for surveillance, early identification, and control of epidemics and other disease threats, including COVID-19,” the Ambassador added.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health agency for the United States, focuses on expert exchange and joint problem solving to address long-standing health challenges, like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as new threats, like COVID-19. 

In 2021 report presented in December last year, the US Mission in Uganda said it spent up to $953 million in U.S. assistance to Uganda in 2020. Of this, $517 million went to the Health sector support, $13 million went for promotion of justice and democracy in support of a more inclusive, empowered, and literate society.

$60 million to support economic growth, especially in agriculture and $206 went to support to Uganda to host 1.4 million refugees.

The U.S. government plays a key role in improving health outcomes by strengthening Uganda’s capacity to sustainably address emerging health threats, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, maternal/child health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS (including by providing anti-retroviral treatment for more than 1.2 million Ugandans).  The assistance also focuses on boosting economic growth and agricultural productivity, including through improving educational outcomes; and supporting democratic governance through inclusive, accountable institutions.

The U.S. mission is working with the government of Uganda to improve tax collection and oil revenue management, and to increase Uganda’s domestic funding for public services and the national response to HIV/AIDS.

“This collaboration has made substantial gains in strengthening health systems, advancing science-based public health initiatives, and enhancing capacity for surveillance, early identification, and control of epidemics and other disease threats, including COVID-19,” US Ambassador to Uganda.