The United Nations Population Fund has handed over masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to help frontline health workers in Madi-Okollo district to prevent the COVID-19 infection.
The Madi-Okollo District Local Government in the West Nile region showed much gratitude as they received health facilities from the UNFPA to help them curb the pandemic.
Frontline health workers are first priorities in receiving these goods as well as workers attending to pregnant and lactating mothers. The government of Uganda has been really grateful to be helped in response to the pandemic.
“The support from UNFPA to Madi-Okollo district is very timely,” said Sr. Justine Anduma, District Health Officer (DHO).
The consignment was however received by Genesis Acema, the local council V Chairperson on behalf of the government.
“I appreciate the support of UNFPA, including the programme that we had just started before the outbreak of COVID-19, to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services, with funding from the Netherlands,” he said.
“We hope that such programmes will go a long way in addressing the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the district, as well as the rampant home deliveries,” Acema added.
Many expectant mothers have struggled to access maternity care due challenges with public transport since the lockdown that began on 25 March. However, UNFPA fully supports the government’s humanitarian and development efforts in the district in the context of sexual and reproductive health.
Frontline health workers remain at a higher risk of contracting communicable diseases including the coronavirus if no proper protective gear is provided. The consignment will help ensure that health services remain available, which is particularly critical for the health and lives of expectant women.
