KAMPALA — SICPA, a technology firm contracted by government to implement the Digital Tax Systems has handed over a donation of five brand new ambulances towards the current government efforts to fight the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the country.
The donation was received by the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine and other officials at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala on Thursday, October 8.
Dr. Aceng who thanked the tech firm for showing solidarity to Government of Uganda during the COVID-19 outbreak said the donation will be very critical in helping the country contain the pandemic.
“On behalf of Government, I appreciate you for joining hands with us to fight this disease. These ambulances will greatly complement our efforts in different ways,” she said.
While receiving the donation, the Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine lauded SICPA for bridging part of the gap in the response efforts and noted that “the donations will go a long way in boosting our response to this pandemic.
SICPA Uganda General Manager of Suzan Kitariko said the donation of the ambulances worthy UGX.1.2 billion is in response to President Museveni’s call to especially the country’s business community to help with the mobility of the health teams in the districts to timely and effectively respond to any cases of Coronavirus in the countryside.
“We are working with various stakeholders to identify areas where our support can make a difference to support Ugandan and it’s
citizens at this difficult time,” she said adding that,” I am delighted that we have been able to provide valuable assistance to local people through this gift of five ambulances to the Ministry of Health.”
Mrs Kitariko added: “SICPA products and solutions have an underlying social benefit. The company’s
mission is to enable trust and it contributes to the well-being of society-at-large by ensuring cash systems, value documents and sensitive goods are safer and more secure for use or consumption.”
COVID-19 continues to spread in Uganda and the government is not certain as to what level the spread may reach.
The east African country as of Wednesday had 9,442 positive cases, while 85 deaths and 5,588 recoveries have been recorded but the Ministry of Health fears that there may be more cases in the communities as Uganda enters stage four—of wide spread transmission.
President Yoweri Museveni urged the private sector and development partners to step in to boost the government’s effort in the COVID-19 response, noting that it requires enormous resources.
It is this clarion call that both the state-owned and privately owned enterprises operating in the country are responding to, putting the communities’ needs ahead of profit maximization.