Dr. Adeodata Kekitiinwa (2nd R), Executive Director of Baylor Uganda, receives some of the personal protective equipment donated by Absa Bank Uganda from the bank’s ED & CFO – Mr. Michael Segwaya
Absa Bank Uganda has donated personal protective equipment (PPEs) to four medical facilities to assist in the protection of frontline medical workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The equipment, valued at Shs74 million was donated to CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda (Mbale), Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation (Mulago), CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital (Entebbe) and YouBelong Uganda for Butabika Hospital (Mutungo). All four medical facilities provide critical care to vulnerable communities.
Speaking at the handover of equipment to Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation, Mr. Michael Segwaya, Absa Bank Uganda ED & Chief Financial Officer, said, “Specialised medical facilities provide highly critical services to vulnerable communities all around us and the COVID-19 pandemic has not spared these health ecosystems. This has highlighted the need for robust interventions that provide additional protection to frontline health workers in these facilities, to maintain the commendable work they do.”
The Coronavirus has exacerbated the occurrence of various non-COVID health conditions, such as mental illness, with Dr Juliet Nakku, the Deputy Executive Director at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital stating that the number of patients at the hospital recorded at the facility in May had doubled from February, placing a strain on the resources and staff of the hospital.
DrAdeodataKekitiinwa, the Executive Director of Baylor Uganda, says, “We are happy with the generous support from our partners. Baylor-Uganda is a non-profit organization whose strategic purpose is to increase the utilization of high quality pediatric, adolescent and Family health care, education and research in Uganda.”
The donation, part of the Absa Cares Covid Initiative, will provide disposable N95 face masks, re-usable gowns, medical masks, protective face shields, disposable gloves, hand sanitizer and thermometer guns.
Mr. DavideNaggi, Chief Executive Officer of CoRSU, says, “CoRSU is very grateful to Absa Bank for the continued friendship and collaboration. The donation will strengthen our preventative measures during COVID-19 pandemic and enable us to continue providing critical surgeries and rehabilitation to indigent Persons with disabilities in Uganda.”
Mr. Segwaya adds, “Absa Bank Uganda continues to be a force for good in Uganda, and this is a responsibility that transcends the financial services sector. We continue to appreciate and recognise the medical fraternity as an invaluable resource in Uganda.”
