US announces $2.3 billion package for Uganda health sector

__________________

Uganda and the United States of America government have signed a bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. 

The new $2.3 billion 5-year agreement is to improve the capacity of the GoU to contribute to global health security, deliver better health outcomes for its own citizens, while reducing dependency on foreign health assistance. 

The MoU was signed in Kampala earlier today (December 10) by Ministers: Matia Kasaija (Finance) and Dr Jane Ruth Aceng (Health), plus the US Ambassador in Uganda, William Popp.

Over the five-year period, the United States Government plans to provide $1.7 billion of support, and the Government of Uganda pledges to increase domestic health expenditures by more than $500 million to gradually assume greater financial responsibility over the course of the framework 

The America First Global Health Strategy programme, released on September 18, outlines a vision to enhance US safety, prosperity, and global health leadership while saving lives and preventing the spread of diseases globally. 

A release from the US mission in Uganda stated that the strategy transitions US global health assistance to multiyear bilateral agreements that strengthen local health systems, reduce inefficiencies, and promote sustainability.

Priority areas for the Uganda Memorandum of Understanding are:

• Surveillance and outbreak response.
• Reduce the burden of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria.
• Strengthen Frontline Health Workers, including Community Health Extension Workers
  
  

(CHEWs).

• Integrated robust health data systems.
• Enhance global health security and laboratory systems.
• Advance data digitisation for monitoring and accountability.
• Integrated, transparent health care commodity supply chain system.