Uganda has received a consignment of Hepatitis C drugs from Egypt, sufficient enough to treat 500 patients a significant development for public health.
The delivery was conducted by General Mohamed Ashraf of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS) which is responsible for manufacturing the drugs and the drugs were officially received by SFC Commander Maj Gen BD Mugisha on behalf of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
According to a statement released by Col Deo Akiki the deputy spokesperson of the Uganda People Defense Forces on December 9, 2024 the delivery is the result of discussions held by Gen Kainerugaba during his visit to Egypt in October, where he engaged with the then Director General of GIS, Maj Gen Abbel Kamal, about Uganda’s urgent need for Hepatitis C drugs.
Gen Kamal has since been succeeded by Gen Hassan Rashad, but the ongoing collaboration continues to yield fruitful results.
Col Akiki highlighted that the arrival of these Hepatitis C drugs follows Uganda’s recent acquisition of vaccines and equipment from Egypt aimed at combating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the agricultural sector.
“These timely deliveries underscore the proactive engagement between the CDF and Egyptian authorities which strengthens bilateral relations between the two countries,” Col Akiki said.
During his October visit to Cairo, Gen Kainerugaba also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including health and agriculture.
This latest consignment of Hepatitis C drugs marks a crucial step in Uganda’s efforts to address public health challenges and strengthens the partnership between Uganda and Egypt.
Witnessing the reception at Entebbe International Airport were Col McDans Kamugira, the CDF’s Military Assistant, and Dr Charles Olaro from the Ministry of Health.
