PEPFAR approves $408million funding to Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda is set to receive $408million – about Shs1.5 trillion funding from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The money approved in Washington on April 20, is planned to be spent on among others procuring AIDS drugs and funding HIV prevention activities between October 2018 and September 2019.
The money is an increase from last year’s $402 PEPFAR budget for Uganda. According to a statement from the US embassy, PEPFAR’s 2018 Country Operational Plan will focus on identifying and treating HIV positive men, supporting voluntary male medical circumcision to help prevent HIV transmission, intensifying efforts to keep adolescent girls and young women AIDS-free, and improving access to HIV prevention and treatment for key and priority populations, such as fisher folk, prisoners, and sex workers.
In addition, PEPFAR-funded programs will increase support to public sector health facilities and commodity supplies, which are vital in providing testing and treatment services.
“We look to the Government of Uganda to expand its domestic resources for HIV/AIDS programming so that together, we can build a healthy and prosperous future for all Ugandans”, said US Ambassador Deborah R. Malac re-echoing a call for increased domestic financing as the biggest part of the health budget remains dangerously financed by foreigners.
However, since 2004, PEPFAR has invested nearly $4.5 billion in building Uganda’s capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS.
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Congratulations to the @PEPFAR Uganda team for having your 2018 Country Operational Plan approved by #AmbBirx today! Working together with our many partners, #PEPFARSavesLives through #accountability & #transparency for #impact. @usmissionuganda @CDCGlobal @USAID #PEPFAR15 pic.twitter.com/UU3Z9Syd7J
— PEPFAR (@PEPFAR) April 20, 2018
As God’s prisons charity Uganda under God’s kingdom ministries international, we really thank the people behind PEPFAR project for the great work you are doing in Uganda that we Ugandans can also have a better life without the problem of HIV/AIDS and more so the prisoners families.