Health facilities in Rwenzori region receive sh1.8b for HIV

Jun 21, 2017

The money has been released by Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Uganda and has already been deposited on the accounts of the benefiting health facilities.

A total of 142 health facilities in Rwenzori region are to benefit from shs1.8bn grant as support towards implementation of HIV/AIDS activities in the region.

The money has been released by Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Uganda and has already been deposited on the accounts of the benefiting health facilities.

According to Baylor Communication officer, Charles Opolot, the implementation of the projects will run from June to August 2017.

The 142 health units are from the seven districts of Bunidbugyo, Kabarole, Ntoroko, Kamwenge, Kyegegwa, Kasese and Kyenjojo.

Kasese district received sh291m, Kabarole sh261m, Kyenjojo sh220m, Kamwenge sh139m, Bundibugyo sh110m, Kyegegwa sh104m and Ntoroko sh60m.

Rwenzori region is one of the areas in Uganda with some of the districts with the highest HIV prevalence rates.

Districts like Kabarole have a prevalence rate standing at 11.3% above the national prevalence of 7.3% according to the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC).

Joseph Mukasa, the grants manager, at Baylor notes that the money is meant to supplement PHC funds from government.

"We give health facilities these monies to supplement PHC funds from government which are often times little," Mukasa said

He revealed that the money is meant to support activities around HIV/AIDS, TB and maternal health.

The grant is part of a five year project; Strengthening National Pediatric HIV/AIDS and Scaling up Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Services in Western Uganda (SNAPS-WEST). It is funded by the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There will be an official handover of the funds on Thursday and the minister of state for health Sarah Opendi is expected to officiate at the function in Fort Portal.

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