To implement the strategy to stop the spread of Ebola, the Health Ministry is asking for Sh76 billion.
While briefing parliament on Wednesday about the outbreak and the containment measures, the State Minister for Health (Primary Health Care), Hon. Margaret Muhanga, said that the health ministry developed a three-month response plan worth Shs76 billion, which was presented to the cabinet and submitted to the Ministry of Finance for funding.
“To date, we have not received any response,” Muhanga told parliament.
The minister disclosed that several partners have mobilized resources, but they are yet to formally communicate with the health ministry.
Muhanga added that the ministry has disbursed Shs2.12 billion to affected districts.
The health ministry is also set to start trials of three vaccines developed to combat the Ebola Sudan virus which has killed 43 people.
The three vaccines are Oxford from the United Kingdom, Sabin, and Merck from the USA.
“We plan to vaccinate contacts of 150 confirmed cases (3000) initially. The trial preparation has been concluded and we estimate that we may begin the trial in two weeks’ time,” said Muhanga.
She added that the vaccine is necessary as there is no known treatment for Sudan Ebola-virus.
Muhanga said a number of treatment options are under trial by the ministry and that the doses used in the treatment are still few.
