Arua City Taskforce is seeking over 200 million shillings to respond to the Ebola threat. According to the taskforce, the money is meant to facilitate transport for health and security personnel, acquire Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), cater for the welfare of health workers and those in isolation, among other expenses.
Doctor Pontius Apangu, the Arua City Health Officer and Ebola Response Focal Person, says that since the outbreak of the disease and subsequent steps taken by the government to close all border crossings, border schools, and markets, the task force has not received any support from the Ministry to support their operations.
Doctor Pontius said several challenges continue to hinder effective rapid response to the threat of Ebola, since it requires financial support.
However, Betty Akello Otekat, the Resident City Commissioner of Arua, appealed to the members and the partners to adopt the budget as it is, adding that the budget is adequate to contain the spread of Ebola.
Mathew Eyoku, Arua City Case Management Officer, Oli HC IV Isolation Center, said it’s already been three weeks since they started responding to the Ebola threat, but the delays by the Ministry of Health to remit funds are complicating their work since most of the partners have conditions attached to funding Ebola activities.
Arua City alone has two gazetted border crossing points at Lia and Odramacaku, 43 motorable routes, and 105 foot paths with DR Congo, which makes it practically difficult to control human movements to and from Congo-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
