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Government identifies a Shs 515 billion funding shortfall for COVID-19 Vaccines

Health

Government identifies a Shs 515 billion funding shortfall for COVID-19 Vaccines

Ugandan government has revealed that it has a Shillings 515 billion funding shortfall to procure nine million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India.

According to the Health Ministry, a total of 21,952,000 million vaccines are expected to arrive in the country between this week and next year. 3,958,000 million of these vaccines are donations from the COVAX facility, India and the People’s Republic of China.

However, the remaining 18 million vaccine doses will be procured from the COVAX facility and the Serum Institute of India.

Government through the Ministry of health has allocated Shillings 582 billion towards procuring the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility, which means that while Uganda has ordered vaccines from the Serum Institute of India, no money has been paid.

For all eligible Ugandans to be vaccinated, the country needs 1 trillion Shillings for the procurement of vaccines, transport and other logistics to vaccinate 49.6 per cent of the country’s population aged 18 and above.

However, Prof Freddie Ssengooba, a public health financial analyst says that if the government can vaccinate at least 80 per cent of the population, the remaining 20 per cent would be protected by default.

He notes that government will have to rely on either donations or supplementary budgets to be able to raise the remaining funds. “We have received some donations but these might not be enough to vaccinate everyone. So, we are likely going to depend on getting a supplementary budget to be able to afford to buy other vaccines just as the case for the money we have now,” Ssengooba says.

The Health ministry permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine however revealed that the government is looking for external funding and that should Uganda fail to get the money from external sources, government will have to look for the money to be able to fund the vaccination project.

On whether the late submission will affect the timelines set for vaccination, Atwine said it was hard to tell.




Sarah K. Biryomumaisho is a seasoned multimedia Award Winning journalist with 11 years of experience in broadcast and writing. She is recognized for her expertise in the field and holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Makerere Business Institute, which has equipped her with a strong foundation in business principles. Sarah's commitment to professional development is evident through her continuous pursuit of knowledge and skills. She has obtained a Certificate in Media Management from Women in News, an esteemed organization dedicated to empowering women in the media industry. In 2020, she successfully completed a Course in Wikimedia, demonstrating her proficiency as one of the few Wikipedia Editors in the country. To further enhance her reporting capabilities, Sarah has also acquired a certificate in Gender Justice Reporting from The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF). This specialized training has equipped her with a deeper understanding of gender-related issues and their portrayal in the media. Throughout her career, Sarah has contributed her talent to various media houses, including six radio stations, where she has showcased her versatility and adaptability. Her most recent engagements include Galaxy FM 100.2 and Radio 4. Additionally, she has served as a writer for Andariya Magazine, further demonstrating her ability to excel in different mediums. Sarah's expertise extends beyond journalism. She has worked as a Digital Communications consultant for the revitalized Uganda Airlines, leveraging her skills to effectively communicate the airline's message in the digital sphere. Her passion for digital media and technology makes her a valuable asset in the evolving landscape of communication. In her entrepreneurial pursuits, Sarah is the proud owner of TheUgPost, a renowned media organization with a strong presence in Uganda and a global reach. Through this platform, she continues to make a significant impact by providing reliable and engaging content to a wide audience. Sarah won the Top Environmental Journalist Award 2023 from Uganda Biodiversity Fund. Twitter; https://twitter.com/BiryomumaishoB

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