COVID-19: 14% of Ugandans cannot afford soap

COVID-19|HEALTH

Many Ugandans know that washing hands with soap and clean water can reduce the spread of COVID-19, 14% of the households surveyed by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics cannot afford bar soap to wash their hands.

Dr Chris Mukiza, the executive director of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) told the media that policymakers have to find solutions that will enable all Ugandans to afford a bar of soap whose use reduces the spread of diseases.

Mukiza said this during the celebrations of the Africa Statistics Day 2020. The function took place at the head offices of UBOS in Kampala.

The study involved interviews from 2,259 households using mobile phones to collect data. "80% knew that by washing hands with soap and clean water, you can prevent the virus. But only 14% or four out of every 10 surveyed said they could afford soap," Mukiza said. The study was entitled ‘Uganda High-Frequency Phone Survey on COVID-19 July/August'.

The study showed that 32% of the Ugandans interviewed could not access medicines, while 11% could not access medical treatments and 5% could not access safe drinking water.

Mukiza said another study showed that 20% of those surveyed believed that if you take alcohol you can prevent getting infected with COVID-19. He said another study involving businesses showed that there was a 27% reduction in the payroll size meaning the number of employees had been reduced. He added that gross output for businesses has declined by 16%. He noted that the sector that was not badly affected by COVID-19 was agriculture.

Mukiza appealed to Ugandans to appreciate the new methods of collecting information which involves mobile phones. He said UBOS was reviewing its methods of work to be more responsive to the increased data demand in terms of quality, quantity and timeliness.

"When we used mobile phones, the respondents would take long to respond. Some people think the government is using the pandemic to curtail their freedom. Some people think when you are interacting with someone you know or a workmate, you do not need to wear face masks," Mukiza said.

He said they need to train traditional statisticians in data science which involves the use of new sources of information like WhatsApp, printed receipts from supermarkets and computing big data using computers.

Mukiza said when people are not empowered you can get insecurity. He explained that adequate information is necessary to support the empowerment of women.

Dr Albert Byamugisha, chairperson UBOS said having correct statistical information could lead to peace and development. "Taking decisions based on wrong information can lead to fighting and disruption of peace.

Byamugisha said the government has adopted the programme-based budgeting approach, which focuses on results and outcomes and this approach will be used to execute the NDP III.

"The results-oriented approach requires detailed and relevant statistics as key inputs to ensure proper monitoring and evaluation. We must track service delivery at local government and ensure the measurement of the objectives of NDP III and Vision 2040," Byamugisha said.

"The bureau has to increase statistical literacy and ensure that the produced statistics are disseminated and used to create positive change in the lives of people," Byamugisha said.

He said the bureau has launched its clients' charter which creates a binding agreement between the bureau and the public who are the statistical clients.

The Managing Director of Unilever Uganda, Joan Mukasa said in an interview many Ugandans cannot afford bar soap because they found it expensive. Mukasa said the packaging costs for bar soap both for bathing and washing clothes increases their prices.

Mukasa said the company that makes bar soap was considering producing bar soap without packaging and placed in vending machines closer to communities that can be paid for cheaply, easily, and picked.