Over the weekend, Coca-Cola Beverage Africa (CCBA) in partnership with Medshare International, delivered vital medical supplies worth 1.4 Billion UGX ($ 417,093) to Kamuli Hospital, as part of an agreement with the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Speaker of Parliament to deliver medical equipment to hospitals in Kamuli, Kakuuto and Kalangala.
With a focus on maternal health and infant care, CCBA delivered machines such as fetal scanners, infant warmers, delivery beds, an electrical surgery unit, an anesthetic unit, an oxygen concentrator, lab equipment, wheel chairs and many others. They also renovated the maternity and pediatric wards of the hospital.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Kamuli, the CCBA Uganda HR Director Martha Munnu Omer (Mrs.) said, “We know that our business can only be as strong as the communities we serve, and we’re honored that we could use our expertise to improve the distribution of medicine and medical supplies. This project has been a great and growing success so far, and we look forward to working with our partners to improve lives across more communities in Uganda, and Africa at large,” she said, adding that CCBA is privileged to be able to help more people enjoy better access to life-sustaining and life-enhancing medical facilities.
This Public-Private partnership, applies Coca-Cola’s logistic, supply chain, distribution and marketing expertise to help the Ugandan government maximize the ability to get critical medical supplies to remote communities in Uganda.
Hon. Sarah Opendi, the State Minister for Health applauded CCBA for the initiative and called upon the district leaders to ensure that this equipment is put to good use.
“This donation of medical equipment is an excellent example of partners coming together to develop an innovative solution that provides access to critical medicines and medical supplies in remote Ugandan communities,” she said.
Commenting about this initiative, Nell Diallo, the Vice President – Corporate & International Relations at Medshare International said “….as a global community, we have set ambitious goals of ending preventable child and maternal deaths and creating an AIDS-free generation.”
The Guest of Honor – Ms. Rebecca Kadaga, the Rt. Hon Speaker of Parliament, who made the request to Coca-Cola in 2014 commended CCBA for following through with their promise.
“The private sector has a vital role to play in the development of our country. When we come together, we can develop our communities a sector at a time. Today, the health sector in Kamuli has received hi-tech medical equipment, thanks to Medshare who donated this equipment and CCBA who covered the costs and handled all the logistics,” she said.
“By harnessing the power of this coalition to get life-saving medicines to the people that need them most, we can help to bend the curve and accelerate reductions in child and maternal deaths,” she concluded