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NHLDS HOSTS THE GLOBAL FUND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

/ 1 May 2024 / 0 Comments

1st May, 2024.

National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic services (NHLDS) hosted the Global Fund Executive Director, Mr. Peter Sands on his visit to Uganda. He is the first Global Fund Executive Director to visit Uganda during his tenure in office.

Mr. Sands was received by the Minister for Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, NHLDS Commissioner Dr. Susan Nabadda, Dr. Robert Mutumba the Uganda Aids Commissioner, and Prof. Edward Kirumira the chairman for Uganda Central Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for global funds for HIV, TB and malaria and other partners from private sector and civil society.

On arrival Mr. Sands visited the different National reference Laboratories at NHLDS offices, the calibration center, the mobile lab mounted truck before proceeding to a meeting chaired by the Health Minister.

In her remarks, Dr. Ruth commended the GF Director for his commitment to visit Uganda adding that if he had more time she would have shown him bigger investments that Global Fund has made in Uganda.

“Uganda has much more to show you in terms of Global Fund Investments in health that has translated into healthy people. As a result Uganda has seen a reduction in HIV prevalence, TB is reducing and so is malaria. We are also grateful for the systems strengthening in the health sector,” she added.

Dr. Susan Nabadda, the NHLDS Commissioner then joined the minister In commending the GF Director for the support the Department has received over the years. She then requested to submit the three specific asks the department wanted the GF to prioritize including;

  • Expansion of the National Calibration Center to increase its scope that would enable it service the whole country and the region.

  • Expand the capacity of the National Reference Laboratory beyond TB, Malaria and HIV

  • Expand the Laboratory scope, infrastructure and human resource needs and support the NRL to become the regional center of Excellence in Africa for malaria.

In his brief remarks Mr. Sands informed his hosts that he was happy to be in Uganda. He added that he was so much interested in discussions on malaria owing to Uganda’s location in the tropics, HIV/AIDs due to Uganda’s leading progress in combating the pandemic in Africa as well as TB.

From here Mr. Sands joined the team in Kibuku for the commemoration of the International day against malaria.