KAMPALA- The United States government continues to support health security with the donation of 48 digital mobile X-ray machines, thermal scanners and PPE to the Government of Uganda to aid in the fight against the spread of TB and other infectious diseases, on the heels of Uganda’s recently concluded Ebola outbreak.
U.S. Ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp and USAID Uganda Mission Director Daniele Nyirandutiye handed these items to Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, at the Ministry of Health on May 14.
The United States, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) TB Acceleration Plan and USAID, facilitated the provision of 48 state-ofthe-art digital chest X-ray machines equipped with computer-aided detection capabilities to enhance TB screening accuracy across the country, reduce the time and cost to do screenings, and reach difficult to access communities.
The 48 digital chest X-ray machines valued at over five million dollars (over 18 billion UGX) have the potential to transform tuberculosis (TB) detection across Uganda. Over the coming year, they could screen over 500,000 patients in more than 60 districts.
At the handover, USAID Uganda Mission Director Daniele Nyirandutiye said, “Our efforts have been successful in helping Uganda close in on the goal of ending TB by 2030. They have resulted in nearly 100% treatment coverage and a 92% success rate. Remarkably, Uganda is one of only five countries in the world to reduce TB mortality by over 50% since 2015, far exceeding the 35% global target.” Recognizing the growing global health risks posed by increased international travel and trade, the U.S. government is also investing in cross-border health security.
Additionally, the United States donated over 120,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE), valued at more than $950,000 (approximately 3.5 billion UGX), to protect frontline workers and reinforce Uganda’s surveillance infrastructure.
U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp said at the handover, “We continue to work together to provide life-saving and humanitarian services, including critical medicines and supplies and support for ending HIV, TB, malaria and improving maternal child health. These efforts to prevent, detect, and contain infectious diseases makes the United States, Uganda, and the world safer and healthier.”
These targeted interventions exemplify the enduring health security partnership between the U.S. and Uganda in building a more resilient, responsive, and effective health system—capable of preventing and managing both local and global health threats.
