Government Launches Influenza Fight

Stephen Otage

6 June 2011

Kampala — The World Bank and government have finally implemented a $4million avian and human influenza preparedness and response project, three years after it was launched.

The project became effective in May 2008 following the re-emergence of infections, like the Marburg hemorrhagic fever reported in Kamwenge and Bushenyi districts in 2007, Ebola in Bundibugyo in 2008, the bird flu which spread across the country and yellow fever in Northern Uganda in 2010 and the current outbreak of Ebola in Luweero district.

Who will handle what

Under the project, the Ministry of Health will handle the human health component, while animal health will be handled by the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries. The Office of the Prime Minister will coordinate and evaluate the project.

The government is committing $2million while the World Bank is also footing a similar amount. While launching the project on Friday, the World Bank Country Manager, Ms Kundhavi Kadiresan, in a statement circulated to the press, said the project is meant to reduce the threat posed to the poultry industry and humans in Uganda so as to prepare to control and respond effectively to any other future infectious disease emergence in humans and livestock.

Beneficiaries

“The project resources and activities have been utilized in the recent outbreak of swine fever in West Nile and northern districts, foot and mouth disease in the cattle corridor, ruminant plague in Karamoja and yellow fever in Acholi region,” reads the statement in part.

According to the Dr. Denis Lwamafa, the commissioner Health Services national disease control ministry of health, most of the infectious infections especially the bird diseases, have recently surged because Uganda has three international bird migratory routes. He added that the project is going to strengthen disease investigation, surveillance, health promotion and staff training. He said land has already been secured in Mulago for construction of isolation units, while in Entebbe a bio-safety level III specialised unit will be constructed to handle highly infectious cases.

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