Remarks at Ebola Response High-Level Partners' Meeting

Honourable Minister of Health

Your Excellencies, the Ambassadors

Heads of Diplomatic Missions

Senior Government Officials

Colleagues from UN Agencies

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning,

I would like to thank the Minister of Health for convening this important meeting to bring together as partners our comparative advantages in support of government efforts aimed at containing the Ebola Virus Disease. My sincere condolences to the family of the deceased patient and wish those infected a speedy and complete recovery.

On behalf of the United Nations in Uganda, I extend our gratitude to the Government of Uganda, our development partners, and operational partners for their unwavering commitment to mitigating the risks associated with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and its impact on our communities. 

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the extraordinary sacrifice and dedication of our health workers, community mobilizers, community leaders and all individuals working tirelessly on the frontlines to contain this outbreak. 

The Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak represents a serious emergency, with profound public health, social, economic and humanitarian implications. 

The suffering and far-reaching consequences for communities demand our full support and coordinated response. It is heartening to see that all of us gathered here today recognize the gravity of this situation and have committed to support an efficient and effective response.

Let me highlight some of the support to the response by UN agencies and what as the UN system we see as areas where further collaboration, coordination and action is required from partners.

United Nations in Uganda, has activated a coordinated, systemwide response to support the Government-led efforts in mitigating the impact of the outbreak. Our agencies, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) have repurposed $1.3 million and are mobilizing resources and expertise, to provide immediate technical, logistical, and operational support. With technical guidance from WHO our efforts are focused on disease surveillance, case detection and management, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, among other measures to ensure a rapid and effective response. 

I urge all partners and donors to unite in supporting the Government of Uganda to effectively contain this outbreak. We must ensure that our efforts are transparent, aligned with national priorities, and focused on addressing critical gaps in the response. We also encourage regular information sharing with the public so that they are aware of the success of the containment actions that the government is spear heading.

The United Nations remains fully committed to supporting the successful implementation of the National Ebola Response Plan, to ensure the well-being and safety of everyone who lives in -or visits- Uganda.

“Together, we can contain this outbreak”

Thank you.