Bunyangabu District Received Personal Protective Equipment Worth UGX 25 Million To Support Health Team In The Fight Against Poor Sanitation And COVID-19 In The District

Amidst the global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus, FINISH Mondial revised her strategies to ensure execution of the programme in order to meet the targets and necessary reporting deadlines. This is done through re-planning and/or re-programming project activities, creating new ways of working via different tools and methods without causing any effect of the pandemic on staff, results, operations, stakeholders and beneficiaries.

The team is working with Village Health Team Members (VHTs, District task team members and sanitation monitors to reach intended communities during this country lock down.

The District Task Force Coordination meetings recommended that the working team be facilitated with the Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPEs) to facilitate the team integrate COVID activities and FINISH work specifically the sensitization and follow up of toilet constructions.

Ms Teo Namata, the Project Manager Amref Health Africa said Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been an issue in the fight against Covid-19 amongst the health workers countrywide and that is why Amref has donated the kits that include; jik, gloves, gum boots, face masks, sanitizers, re-usable aprons and radio programs to sensitize communities on COVID-19 among others.

“Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) has been at the forefront and effective measures in the prevention and control the spread of COVID-19. Amref through her Financial Inclusion Improves Sanitation and Health (FINISH) project has supported the Bunyangabu District task force with PPE to help respond to the Covid-19” while integrating FINISH project interventions, said Namata.

Handover of Personal Protective Equipment to Bunyangabu District Task Force Team (from right is LCV Mr. Ategeka, CAO Mr. Ruhweza, Godliver, Teo (Amref FINISH staff, RDC Ms. Asiimwe Jane and Dr. Obeti Richard (DHO)

She said improved sanitation has proved the effectiveness of water and hand washing practices during the COVID-19 situation.

Handover of Personal Protective Equipment to Bunyangabu District Task Force Team (from right is LCV Mr. Ategeka, CAO Mr. Ruhweza, Godliver, Teo (Amref FINISH staff, RDC Ms. Asiimwe Jane and Dr. Obeti Richard (DHO)

The District Health Officer, Dr. Richard Obeti said communal work under the “Finish” project has seen an improvement in hygiene behavior in Bunyangabu District.

“While promoting construction and use of improved toilets, the FINISH team pays much attention to hand washing practice. This is the very reason why the campaign for hand washing during the COVID-19 is an easy to do act for the people of Bunyangabu” Dr. Obeti said.

As a result, Dr. Obeti said a good number of households and businesses have maintained proper hygiene with particular emphasis on use of improved toilets and hand washing practices.

Dr. Obeti Richard DHO) Bunyangabu demonstrating how to  wear an N95 face masks to the DTF team during the hand over of an assortment of items to the Bunyangabu COVID-19 district task force.

Namata said the kits donated will help the Village health team (VHTs) and all health workers in the district.

“We closely work with partners (District Local Government, Financial Institutions, Entrepreneurs and Community) to improve sanitation and hygiene practices in the district and our project target is 13, 000 safely managed sanitation facilities (toilets) by June 2020” she said, adding, “By reinforcing the Wash systems and services increasing access to water among others, we are sure we shall fight Covid-19”

Teo (The Project Manager) Distributing masks to participants to ensure every one wear a mask during the DTF meeting

It is upon this back ground that Amref (team FINISH) procured and facilitated the DTF members with PPE materials.

Report Compiled by: Teo Namata

Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa teams up with African communities to create lasting health change.