Some of the Global Fund country team members, the Local Fund Agent, the Funds Coordination Unit, and Ministry of Health officials during the tour of the NMS warehouse in Kajjansi
The Global Fund country team recently concluded its January 2023 mission to Uganda. During their visit to Uganda, the team held a range of constructive engagements between 16 to 25 January.
On Friday, January 20th, the Global Fund country team, together with representatives from the Funds Coordination Unit (FCU) of the Global Fund Grants, the Ministry of Health, and the Local Fund Agent (PricewaterhouseCoopers) made time to visit the National Medical Stores warehouse in Kajjansi.
The team was led on a guided tour of the facility by the National Medical Stores (NMS) General Manager, Moses Kamabare and the National Medical Stores Chief Stores and Operations Officer, Paul Okware.
Speaking at the event visit, Mr. Kamabare welcomed the visiting team and specifically appreciated the Global Fund for its contribution towards the warehouse facility, which was commissioned by President Museveni on November 3, 2022.
Mr Kambare said 95% of the building is complete and the intention is to have the rest of the building completed by the end of March 2023.
The Funds Coordination Unit of the Global Fund Grants Coordinator, Johnson Mutesigensi said he was glad that the warehouse facility is habitable and functional. He thanked the NMS leadership for their work towards making it happen.
He also said that the facility helps to underscore the fact that the Global Fund is very interested in the health system strengthening.
Mr. Mutesigensi also spoke about the Long Lasting insecticidal treated nets (LLIN) distribution campaign, which the NMS has previously conducted and is keen to do the same this year. “We are hoping that the next nets campaign distribution will be better so that we can give confidence to the Global Fund that we can do it,” he said.
The Global Fund Portfolio Manager-Uganda, Dr. Saman Zaman thanked the NMS General Manager for receiving the team and thanked NMS and its leadership for the achievement of commissioning the new warehouse facility. He conveyed apologies of the Global Fund team for being unable to make it for the commissioning event of the warehouse due to other pressing commitments.
The Health Products Management specialist with the Global Fund, Idris Rafiu said, “I am very happy that we are finally here. This is a great feeling and I’m happy for everyone that contributed to this project.” “This is an opportunity to show case excellence,” he added.
The representative of the Local Fund Agent of the Global Fund, Dawson Kalemba thanked NMS’ General Manager and his team for saving Uganda the embarrassment of a failed project. “I hope that with your ingenuity and innovation you will make the place even more functional and more resourceful,” he added.
On his part, NMS Chief Stores and Operations Officer, Mr Okware also thanked the Global Fund for trusting the NMS with its resources. “The NMS shall continue to invest in improving facilities and strengthening health supply chain management,” he said.
Relatedly, as part of their mission, the Global Fund country team attended the national dialogue on priorities for HIV, TB, Malaria and Resilient and Sustainable System for Health for the period 2024-2026. The team also held engagements with a range of stakeholders that are critical to the Global Fund grants implementation. As part of their engagements, the team paid courtesy calls to the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Ramathan Ggoobi and the Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine. Among others, the engagements included a meeting with the Procurement and Supply Chain Management (PSM) to discuss PSM system strengthening activities for the next grant – NFM IV. The team met with the Aids Control Programme, the National TB and Leprosy control programme, the National Malaria Control Programme and The Aids Support Organization who shared their implementation updates of the current funding Model.
0 Comments