As part of ongoing efforts to reinforce Uganda’s readiness and capacity to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, the Government of Uganda, through the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has today received a consignment of over 500,000 high-grade FFP2 and FFP3 masks.
The donation, valued at UGX 2.4 billion (approximately €584,000 or CHF 2 million, including transport), was facilitated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and donated by the French Red Cross (Croix-Rouge française), with support from the Airbus Foundation and private sector partners.
The masks, sourced from reputable global brands including 3M, Honeywell, Valmy, and Medicom, arrived at Entebbe International Airport and will be handed over to the Ministry of Health to reinforce Uganda’s national epidemic preparedness and response stockpile.
These high-quality respirators are intended to provide vital protection to frontline health workers, emergency responders, and isolation-centre staff. The shipment will play a critical role in Uganda’s readiness to respond to infectious disease outbreaks such as Ebola and COVID-19.
“This consignment of PPEs is a vital contribution to Uganda’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disease outbreak preparedness and response. It will significantly enhance the Ministry of Health’s capacity to swiftly respond to future public health emergencies. We are grateful to the Airbus Foundation for facilitating the shipment from France to Uganda, and we sincerely appreciate the continued support of all IFRC partners who have worked diligently behind the scenes to make this delivery possible,” said Henry Musembi, IFRC Country Delegate.
Afterwards, these masks will be handed over to the government of Uganda during an official event that will be held at the Ministry of Health headquarters in AntKampala, where the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, is expected to attend and deliver remarks.
“This is a timely boost to our national epidemic preparedness,” said Robert Kwesiga, Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society. “We are deeply grateful to our partners, especially the IFRC and the French Red Cross for this vital support. As Uganda recovers from the recent Sudan Ebola Virus outbreak, strengthening our response systems is more important than ever.”
He added: “The Uganda Red Cross Society remains committed to supporting the Government of Uganda’s health priorities. Facilitating this donation from IFRC highlights the strength of trusted humanitarian partnerships and our unwavering dedication to saving lives, extending sustainable humanitarian assistance to build resilient communities.”
This donation underscores the enduring partnership between URCS, the Ministry of Health, and the IFRC in Uganda’s epidemic preparedness and response efforts.
Beyond providing personal protective equipment (PPE), this collaboration encompasses contact tracing, psychosocial support, and medical logistics, ensuring a comprehensive approach to public health emergencies.