Summary:
- President Museveni expressed his appreciation to Gavi and its donors for their significant support to Uganda’s health sector, which has enabled the government to prioritize resources for the development of other key sectors.
KAMPALA: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met on Monday with Dr. Sania Nishtar, the Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and her team. The discussions focused on challenges related to child immunization and strategies to enhance the program.
President Museveni expressed his appreciation to Gavi and its donors for their significant support to Uganda’s health sector, which has enabled the government to prioritize resources for the development of other key sectors.
“Without international support, we would have to rely on our own resources, which would mean diverting funds from other critical areas like roads and infrastructure. Your support has freed up these resources for other essential priorities,” President Museveni said.
The president also reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to supporting Gavi’s programs by fulfilling its 20% co-financing obligation for vaccines. He urged line ministries and local governments to intensify public awareness campaigns on nutrition, highlighting that 7% of annual deaths are due to non-communicable diseases.
Dr. Nishtar praised Uganda’s partnership with Gavi, noting that “You should be proud that your country is one of the few in East Africa with high life expectancy and has effectively controlled outbreaks.”
She commended Uganda for its efforts in immunization, acknowledging the country’s successful use of vaccines and antigens to protect children and safeguard future generations from vaccine-preventable diseases. Dr. Nishtar also highlighted that Uganda would be the first country to launch the world’s largest malaria program.
