National Medical Stores (NMS) has announced the first ever female truck drivers to deliver government medicines and embrace gender equality.
Sheila Nduhukire, the public relations officer of NMS, reported that a team of women has joined over 60 male drivers who have been doing the supply all over the country.
She added that having the first female drivers join them will close the gender gap, especially in a trade that is predominantly male.
“Congratulations to the incredible ladies who have joined the team as female truck drivers,” she stated.
Nduhukire said she was excited about their contribution towards delivering essential medicines and health supplies to government health facilities across the country.
In attendance was the minister of health, Jane Ruth Aceng, who flagged off eight trucks produced by the government of Uganda and 19 trucks procured with the support of the Global Fund.
The trucks acquired are to boost the fleet’s capacity to transport oxygen and cold chain commodities to healthy facilities.
The minister of health stated that 6,781 medicine shelves have been procured and are being distributed to 2,200 health facilities to help store medicine properly.
According to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the government of Uganda considers gender equality and women’s empowerment critical for the attainment of accelerated socio-economic transformation.
The report states that the country has made some advancements towards the attainment of gender parity and narrowed gender gaps in the economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment spheres.
