Joel Ogwang
18 November 2008
Kampala — THE Global Fund has approved a two-year grant of $8m (about sh13.7b) for the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Uganda.
Under the first phase of the grant, $3.8m (about sh6.5b) will be released this year and $4.1m (about sh7.1b) next year.
Dr. Francis Adatu-Angwau, the National TB/Leprosy programme manager at the health ministry, said the grant will support activities in five areas. They include procurement of TB drugs, strengthen diagnostic services, community mobilisation, implementation of TB/HIV interventions and strengthening monitoring and evaluation.
"We have received the first trunk of $901,385 (about sh1.5b) to cover six months. This is project money. We need effective management and accountability to ensure value-for-money," he said.
Addressing district leaders and medical practitioners in Mukono recently, Adatu stressed that the grant could be terminated if it is misused.
President Yoweri Museveni in 2006 instituted a probe into the mismanagement of the Global Fund chaired by High Court judge James Ogoola.
Former health minister Jim Muhwezi and his deputies Mike Mukula and Alex Kamugisha, as well as Alice Kaboyo, a State House official, were implicated in the inquiry.
The TB prevalence rate in Uganda is 600 cases per 1,000 people, with the 20-45-year-old being the most affected. About 50-60% of TB patients, Adatu said, are infected with HIV.
TB is also the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among people living with HIV/AIDS. Adatu expressed concern that poor drug use was hindering the fight against TB.
"Patients default before completing the full course of treatment, while others stop taking drugs when they feel better," he said.
Uganda has embarked on a plan to increase the TB case detection rate from 49.6% in 2006 to 75% by 2011.
It also plans to increase the treatment success rate from 73.2% in 2006 to 80% by 2010.
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