The Minister of Health and Permanent Secretary, Doctors Jane Ruth Aceng and Diana Atwine, on Wednesday faced off with lawmakers.
In their interface with MPs, the two explained some of the pertinent issues raised by the MPs including how the shs29bn raised, was spent.
BELOW IS AN EXCERPT
MPs: Why has MOH failed to buy vaccines?
Hon.Aceng: Honorable Members our hands are tied. The vaccines producing companies have locked out poorer countries and only given vaccines to rich countries. Those we are getting as donations were bought by those rich countries with access.
MPs: What happened to the Over 29bn that the public donated to government?
Hon. Jane: This money went to OPM and Min.Finance. We were guided to use it to procure cars for surveillance, construction of a blood bank in Soroti and 2 boarder health units in Vurra and Cyanika.
MPs: Why use the 29bn to buy cars and not oxygen.
Hon.Aceng: WHO was hiring vehicles for us to do COVID surveillance in the districts, which was very expensive and unsustainable. So H.E advised that we use this money to buy double cabins to support districts to do this work, and other construction works.
MPs: How far with procurement for these double cabins?
Dr.Diana: We procured a total of 282 double cabins from Toyota at a negotiated total of about 24.6bn. As we talk 121 of these are in country being cleared. The balance is to construct a Blood bank at Soroti RRH and boarder post health units at Cyanika and Vurra boarder posts.
