Kampala, 6th March 2014 -- The Minister of Health Dr Ruhakana Rugunda signed the World Health Organization Programme Budget (2014-2015) for Uganda that seeks to support the Ministry of Health fully implement the Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan (HSSIP II). The signing signifies agreement and consent for both The Government of Uganda and WHO to work and support areas detailed in progamme document over a period of two years.

Through this Programme Budget estimated at 9.5 million dollars, WHO will provide technical support to 29 areas of work including Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that have lately become a significant health concern in Uganda. For that, WHO will the country support to develop national multisectoral policies and plans to implement interventions to prevent, control and treat NCDs.

In the area of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, WHO will support the Ministry of Health to implement and monitor the global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS through policy dialogue and technically. In addition, the country will be assisted with utilization of norms and standards in the prevention and treatment of paediatric and adult HIV infection.

Under Health Systems Strengthening, WHO will support the country to comprehensively monitor global, regional and country health situations, trends and determinants using global standards. The new area of ehealth will also be addressed so that planning, development and implementation are properly done.

Another notable area of collaboration will be “Healthy Ageing” under which WHO will work with the Ministry of Health to develop policies and strategies that foster healthy and active ageing and improve access to and coordination of chronic, long-term and palliative care.

In recent years, Uganda has experienced outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever such as Ebola, Marburg, Yellow fever and Crimean Congo Fever. Therefore, WHO will back the Ministry to better deal with such outbreaks through implementation of the Emergency Response Framework.

Other areas that feature prominently include polio eradication, food safety, nutrition, reproductive health, violence and injuries, mental health and health promotion, neglected tropical diseases, disabilities and rehabilitation, Gender, equity and human rights and access to medical products.

At a brief ceremony held in his office, Hon Rugunda appreciated WHO’s continued collaboration and promised to ensure that this particular programme budget is appropriately implemented. The WHO Country Representative Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu assured the minister of WHO’s continued support and partnership in all health related issues.

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For more information please contact :

Benjamin Sensasi, Health Promotion Advisor,

WHO Country Office Tel 256-414-335500

Email: sensasib [at] ug.afro.who (sensasib[at]ug[dot]afro[dot]who)