Press Release: EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response Programme Delivers Mobile Laboratory to the Ministry of Health of Uganda

PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 26 July 2023
EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response Programme Delivers Mobile Laboratory Worth UGX 700 Million to the Ministry of Health - Uganda

A mobile laboratory was handed over to the Ministry of Health of Uganda today in Kampala, Uganda, as part of an ongoing European Union-funded Programme to support countries in the IGAD region to strengthen surveillance and the healthcare system. The mobile laboratory will be stationed in the Central Health Laboratories at Butabika- Ministry of Health Headquarters.
The mobile lab, worth EUR 167,300 (approximately 700 million Uganda Shillings), will be used to collect specimens from suspected patients across the country and within the cross-border areas in case of an outbreak of an infectious disease and for sample transportation to the nearest lab for testing. The mobile laboratory will help the medical workers to reach out to the patients from the cross-border areas, areas of emergency response, truck drivers in main truck stops and parking areas as well as people crossing the border in case of mass population movement or displacement.
The mobile lab was handed over to the Minister of State for Health (Primary Health Care), Hon. Margaret Muhanga Mugisa by the Deputy Ambassador of the European Union in Uganda, Ambassador Guilaume Chartrain and IGAD Health Expert EU-IGAD Response Programme - Mr. Hamid Idrees on behalf of the Director IGAD Health and Social Development Division as well representatives from the UN family and senior Ministry of Health officials.
Previously under the programme, an advanced and two standard ambulances; 803,230 PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment), 25,056 COVID-19 test kits were delivered to the Ministry of Health Headquarters as well as two PCR labs donated to Arua and Moroto Regional Referral Hospitals to support surveillance and laboratory services in the Republic of Uganda. Also to note, Bibia Health Centre III in Amuru District was reconstructed to support the country in the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services. This was part of the IGAD programme’s effort to improve the health response and support cross-border communities and vulnerable populations especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Programme focuses on critical cross border areas in the region, refugee settlements and aims to enhance IGAD’s coordination capacity, increase access to health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, combat gender-based violence, improve community engagement, ensure borders are safe for trade and promote digital health solutions.
Funded by the European Union, the €60 million EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response Project is managed by UNOPS PMU Djibouti and coordinated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), International Organization for Migration (IOM), TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) and The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with the aim to provide a comprehensive and coordinated COVID-19 response and its social economic impact on cross border areas and refugees across the IGAD region namely; Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda as well as to strengthen the health care systems in these countries.
The Minister of State for Health (Primary Health Care), Hon. Margaret Muhanga Mugisa stated:
“With funding from the European Union (EU), IGAD and the UN family IOM, UNICEF and UNOPs renovated port health facilities and donated a number of items including Laboratory equipment, ambulances, computers, fridges, PPEs, PCR test kits and other Laboratory supplies for CPHL Reference Laboratory, Arua and Moroto Regional Hospitals, Adjumani, Busia and Tororo Districts, and Elegu, Malaba and Busia Port Health facilities. I want to thank the European Union (EU) for providing funding for the mobile Laboratory and all the other support for curbing covid-19 in the country. I thank the implementers Inter – Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN family for the effective implementation of the projects.”
The Deputy Ambassador of the European Union in Uganda, Ambassador Guilaume Chartrain stated:
“This medical lab, procured and delivered under the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response programme, follows a string of beneficial initiatives we have undertaken, including the refurbishment and expansion of the Bibia Health Centre III and the provision of essential medical supplies and four ambulances to Uganda. Our EU-IGAD COVID 19 Response programme, and its support part to Uganda, is dedicated to strengthening the healthcare system in this region and mitigating the health and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, which has so dramatically reshaped our world. It is part of the Team Europe continuing support for its valued partners facing the pandemic and its consequences, a testimony to our shared commitment to safeguarding human lives.”
The IGAD Health Expert EU-IGAD Response Programme, Mr. Hamid Idrees stated:
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the EU for the generous and timely support which we hope to continue, after closure of this program, for further health system strengthening to be prepared for prevention and response to health emergencies, thanks also to IGAD partners, and thanks to the government of Uganda for the great effort and for hosting us and the hospitality.”


On behalf of UNOPS Senior Project Manager Rossella Monti, UNOPS Project Management Unit in Djibouti:
“This EU-funded support should especially be valuable to the patients and population in the remote areas, near border crossings and the most vulnerable populations in order to receive better medical services. As our project managed by the UNOPS Project Management Unit in Djibouti in coordination with IGAD is approaching its completion, I am glad to see that we are still able to make a positive change in the lives of the common people.”