The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal for $11.2 million to support Uganda’s efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak.
This appeal comes as Uganda’s health budget faces strain due to reduced U.S. foreign aid.
The outbreak, declared in January, involves the Sudan strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine exists.
Two deaths have been confirmed, including a male nurse and a four-year-old child.
The requested funds will support the Ebola response from March to May in seven high-risk districts, aiming to rapidly contain the outbreak and mitigate its socio-economic impact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the urgency of the situation.
Uganda has historically relied heavily on U.S. funding for its health sector.
However, recent U.S. aid cuts have significantly impacted the country’s public health budget.
During the 2022-2023 Ebola outbreak, the U.S. provided $34 million for various response activities.
Now, the WHO is temporarily taking on responsibilities previously covered by other groups, including border surveillance and handling biological samples.
Ebola symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pains, and the virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids.