The Ministry of Health is seeking additional Shs700b towards the fight against COVID-19.
This was revealed by the Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on National Economy to defend government’s proposal where it is seeking Parliament’s approval to borrow $300 million from the World Bank.
The money, according to the minister, is intended to provide sufficient resources to the health sector and mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on the economy.
Aceng informed Parliament that the Ministry requires funding of Shs1 trillion to combat COVID-19 between March to September 2020 but at the moment, only Shs300B is available, leaving the Ministry grappling with Shs700b deficit.
According to Aceng the total budget required between March to September 2020 to manage COVID-19 is Shs1 trillion.
She said they need to use it in logistics and laboratory and that covers for Personal Protective Equipment and test kits.
Aceng said the money which they have is Shs322, 378,669M which is a contribution from Government of Uganda and partners.
She said that out of the $300 million Government plans to borrow from the World Bank, the Ministry of Health will only receive Shs35b which is going to be used to procure masks.
Aceng also informed MPs that the Ministry has so far procured 38 ambulances at the cost of Shs11 billion saying they also have a plan to set up non-residential buildings at cost of Shs500b that will act as a quarantine center.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
