Kampala – The Authorities of Uganda, by way of the Workplace of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Ministry of Well being, with help from the World Well being Group (WHO) and the broader neighborhood of well being companions and stakeholders, has as we speak launched the nation’s second Nationwide Motion Plan for Well being Safety (NAPHS II): 2024–2029.
The UGX 1.1 trillion (roughly USD 295 million) NAPHS II will strengthen Uganda’s capability to stop, detect, and reply to public well being emergencies in keeping with the Worldwide Well being Rules (IHR, 2005). These laws require international locations to construct capacities in 19 technical areas to help prevention, early detection, and response.
“This launch marks the start of an formidable well being safety agenda and reaffirms our collective dedication to safeguarding the well being and well-being of all Ugandans in keeping with the broader goals of the Nationwide Growth Plan IV, which envisions a wholesome inhabitants as key to attaining sustainable growth,” mentioned Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, Minister of Basic Duties within the Workplace of the Prime Minister on behalf of Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja.
WHO defines world well being safety because the actions required to attenuate the hazard and influence of acute public well being occasions that endanger folks’s well being throughout geographical areas and worldwide boundaries. To attain nationwide well being safety, international locations are suggested to develop their NAPHS. The NAPHS is a multiyear, country-owned strategic plan designed to assist international locations put together for, reply to, and get better from well being emergencies by bettering their skill to stop, detect, and reply to public well being emergencies.
Uganda is vulnerable to public well being emergencies, starting from illness outbreaks to pure disasters, and should put together for and reply to those occasions whereas defending world communities from the worldwide unfold of illness. In 2019, the nation launched its first Nationwide Motion Plan for Well being Safety (NAPHS I), coordinated by OPM.
The implementation of NAPHS I (2019–2023) introduced transformative enhancements to Uganda’s well being safety. Notable achievements embody the enhancement of collaborative illness surveillance techniques throughout sectors, enormously bettering responses to zoonotic illnesses by way of a One Well being strategy. The plan additionally superior efforts to digitize the surveillance system to enhance early warning and response mechanisms.
Investments in laboratory capability additional strengthened Uganda’s diagnostic capabilities, with 70 laboratories attaining accreditation, together with two veterinary laboratories. These developments considerably improved turnaround occasions for testing and information reliability throughout outbreaks. Moreover, 12 Regional Emergency Operations Centres have been established to help coordination, such because the Mbale Centre, which performed a vital position in responding to the continuing Bulambuli district landslides catastrophe.
Regardless of its successes, NAPHS I and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vital gaps and areas for enchancment, corresponding to the necessity for stronger neighborhood involvement in well being safety.
“NAPHS II builds on the achievements and classes of NAPHS I by way of a fragile steadiness between addressing instant well being threats and constructing long-term resilience,” mentioned Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Well being within the Ministry of Well being.
In October 2023, Uganda performed its second Joint Exterior Analysis (JEE). The JEE report offered suggestions and precedence actions which have been integrated into NAPHS II. Key priorities embody strengthening surveillance and laboratory capacities to detect and reply to well being emergencies extra effectively, enhancing neighborhood engagement by way of danger communication and public consciousness campaigns, bettering multisectoral collaboration, and integrating gender and local weather change concerns into well being safety planning.
The launch was attended by representatives from authorities Ministries, Departments, and Businesses (MDAs), Well being Growth Companions, and implementing companions.
“From the success in responding to the current Ebola outbreak, which was contained in a file 69 days, to the continuing surveillance and containment of different public well being dangers, Uganda has demonstrated that strong techniques and collaboration can save lives and construct belief,” mentioned Dr Christine Musanhu, on behalf of Dr Charles Njuguna, the Appearing WHO Consultant in Uganda.
US Ambassador William Popp pledged continued help for Uganda’s well being interventions. “The USA, along with fellow growth and implementing companions, seems ahead to continued cooperation with Uganda to stop, detect, and quickly reply to all epidemic-prone illnesses right here and within the area,” he mentioned.
The launch was supported by WHO, america Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID), the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), Resolve to Save Lives, Baylor Uganda, Makerere College Infectious Ailments Institute, alongside authorities MDAs. Growth companions concerned within the creation of NAPHS II included UKAID, the European Union, the Meals and Agricultural Group (FAO), UNHCR, the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM), the World Meals Programme (WFP), Africa CDC, and the Korea Basis for Worldwide Healthcare, amongst others.