Saxony sends relief supplies to Uganda

Free State donates rapid COVID-19 tests and masks to Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala

Saxony is sending rapid antigen tests and masks to Uganda today (July 14, 2021). The donation from the State of Bavaria includes 5.000 rapid antigen tests and 12.000 surgical and FFP masks worth around 24.300 euros.

With a time delay, the COVID-19 pandemic is now also affecting many African countries, including Uganda, which has long managed to keep the pandemic largely out of the country.

The delivery is to go to Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala, which is one of Uganda's national reference centers for infectious diseases. The hospital has 200 beds and is currently at the forefront of fighting the disease with other reference hospitals. The material is primarily used to protect medical and nursing staff.

Minister of State Oliver Schenk: »The employees of the hospital move about in a highly infectious environment every day. As with us, doctors and nursing staff are required to the highest degree to ensure patient care. With our donation we want to make a small contribution to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic on site.«

Schenk thanked those involved: »It's not the first time that the DHL office in Leipzig is using its logistics expertise to help send relief supplies. During the pandemic, DHL has proven to be a strong support for Saxony.«

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The Center for Infectious Medicine at the University Hospital Leipzig, Managing Director Prof. Dr. Christoph Lübbert and private lecturer Dr. Amrei von Braun, have been working with Dr. Charles Kabugo at the Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala. A project as part of the federal program for hospital partnerships is nearing completion. A new project was started in June 2021 as part of the federal-state program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Under the direction of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and with funding from the Free State of Saxony, the two clinics are improving the capacity of the Kiruddu Hospital to combat infectious diseases. The project has a very strong training component and also helps prospective doctors from Saxony. The project envisages that doctors not only from Uganda but also from Leipzig will have the opportunity to deal specifically with patients suffering from complicated bacterial infections or typical tropical diseases such as malaria.

Source: Press release from the Saxon State Chancellery from July 14.07.2021th, XNUMX