Uganda Continued Market Vigilance
When Uganda went under total lockdown, markets continued to operate, with people going there in large numbers to sell or buy food, making them a high-risk area for transmitting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
To mitigate the spread risk, the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) approached MTN Uganda for funding to support the busiest markets with risk communication and COVID-19 screening services.
Subsequently, MTN committed Shs 297 million to URCS to support disease prevention and control in such high-risk communities. With funding from MTN, URCS has, for the last two months been supporting busy markets in Kampala and Wakiso to carry out risk communication, screening and hygiene promotion for people who access the markets in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Following positive behavioural change among the market communities, the market risk communication and screening projects were recently handed over to the local market management authorities.
Speaking at one of the recent markets’ risk communication and screening handover in Gayaza, MTN Uganda’s regional commercial lead, Patrick Tumusime said that: “I am very pleased to note that since these risk communication and screening activities were introduced, the communities have adapted to them and have been adhering to them as recommended. We, therefore, feel confident to hand over the systems to the local authorities to carry on with the good work that Red Cross has been doing as a way of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.”
The 16 beneficiary high traffic markets were selected by URCS in coordination with the ministry of Health and Kampala Capital City Authority These include; St Balikuddembe market (Owino), Nakasero, Nateete, Busega, Ntinda New Market, Nansana daily market and Kyaliwajjala market among others.
A total of 13 priority markets in Kampala and 3 in Wakiso were selected based on their capacity in terms of the number of people they host on a daily basis.
In addition to supporting the markets, MTN ran a highly publicized SMS campaign dubbed ‘Support Red Cross activities’ which saw the public respond with generous donations amounting to Shs 21.9 million. This money was handed over to URCS to further support its endeavours against the spread of Covid-19.
In the Red Cross COVID-19 response report, Josephine Okwera, URCS director for health and social services said “We have trained more health teams to work through this pandemic. Our auxiliary role to government during this pandemic has been proved stronger by playing making a complementary contribution to what Government is able to do with the little resources available.”
Tumusime thanked URCS for the tremendous work of sensitizing, screening and promoting hygiene in the markets. He also encouraged both the sellers and buyers of food to remain vigilant by observing the ministry of health guidelines of social distancing, wearing of face masks, hand washing and sanitizing among others to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
