A total of 5,225,854 government face-masks have been delivered to Kampala Metropolitan Area, Wakiso and Mukono Districts, the Ministry of Health has announced on Tuesday.
The new development paves way for distribution of free face masks in Kampala Metropolitan as a measure by government to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.
An earlier communication by the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, the process of distribution of the face-masks in KMP should have taken place last weekend. MOH says this did not happen after the authorities in KMP requested for more time to systematically plan on delivering the masks to the residents.
However, according to the Permanent Secretary MOH Dr. Diana Atwine, whereas the process of procurement and delivery of masks has been concluded distribution may not start immediately since teams from the ministry are still engaging local authorities on how the masks can distributed to the population living in those areas.
Early June this year, government kicked off nationwide distribution of free face masks to citizens above the age of six years starting with border districts which were presumed to be hot-spots of covid-19 infections. From the border districts, districts with cities and municipalities followed, and then districts along the cargo truck transit routes.
To-date, Dr. Atwine said, the Ministry of Health has distributed 13,455,657 face masks to 30 districts across the country including; Amuru, Kyotera, Buikwe, Arua, Adjumani, Isingiro, Rakai, Busia, Moyo, Tororo, Gulu, Hoima, Ntungamo, Kakumiro, Masaka, Kumi, Moroto, Lira, Mbarara, Yumbe, Soroti, Kamuli, Kassanda, Omoro, Jinja, Kiruhura, Kabale, Kampala Metropolitan Area, Wakiso and Mukono.
Atwine says, it is important to note that in all the districts where the Ministry of Health delivered face masks, the Local Government structures have facilitated the distribution of the masks to the people.
In the same vein, Atwine urged the leaders in Kampala Capital City to expedite the distribution of the masks using the structures to curb the threat of COVID-19 transmission in the city.
The Ministry of Health also appealed to the general public to adhere to the measures instituted by H.E the President and the Standard Operating procedures issued by the Ministry of Health in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Uganda.
COVID-19 preventive measures include hand-washing with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer frequently, maintain a social distance of at least 2 meters and to always wear a face mask when in public. The face mask should cover the nose and mouth.