Summary:

• The Ministry of Health in Uganda received €62,000 worth of IT equipment to strengthen disease surveillance, courtesy of a collaborative effort involving IGAD, the EU, and Germany.

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Uganda’s Ministry of Health welcomed a donation of IT equipment worth €62,000 today, aimed at enhancing its disease surveillance capabilities. Coordinated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the initiative is implemented by GIZ.

Titled “EU Digital Solutions to Strengthen Disease Surveillance and Monitoring Systems,” the project aims to empower Uganda in promptly detecting, tracking, and responding to public health threats. The donated equipment will facilitate efficient data collection, analysis, and communication, facilitating evidence-based decision-making.

This donation underscores the collaborative efforts of the EU, Germany, and Uganda in fortifying public health infrastructure and combatting infectious diseases.

During the handover ceremony, Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, emphasized the timeliness of the donation for cross-border health facilities, highlighting its role in enhancing disease surveillance efficiency and data sharing.

Joselyn Bigirwa, IGAD’s Head of Mission in Uganda, noted that the handover is part of the broader regional disease surveillance and response initiative supported by the EU and GIZ. She highlighted IGAD’s efforts in developing regional data sharing and protection policies endorsed by the IGAD Health Ministerial Council.

The handover event aligns with the EU’s commitment to the Call to Action by the Heads of State of IGAD countries in 2020. The project, with a total volume of Euro 8.4M, primarily funded by the EU and the German government through BMZ, aims to enhance disease surveillance across IGAD member states.

The IT equipment, including desktops, laptops, tablets, UPSes, extensions, and access points, will be deployed to Uganda’s Ministry of Health and cross-border sites to bolster the existing Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system. This integration will facilitate the exchange of health data at various levels, promoting efficient disease surveillance.

Representing GIZ, Joshua Mokaya emphasized the significance of the equipment in fostering a regional health surveillance system that transcends borders, promoting seamless data exchange among IGAD member states.

Nicholas Gonze, the EU Head of Governance, stressed the importance of regional cooperation through entities like IGAD in strengthening disease surveillance and fostering international cooperation.

The initiative aims to implement a regional, transnational, and real-time monitoring and analysis system (SORMAS) in the IGAD region, facilitating the flow of health information and data among member states for pandemic containment and control.

Overall, the donated IT equipment marks a significant step towards enhancing disease surveillance processes, improving data management practices, and fostering regional collaboration in public health initiatives.