On July 28, 2022, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC Director, in the company of the US Ambassador to Uganda HE. Natalie Brown visited the Uganda National Institute of Public Health.
During the visit, the Director was given a brief tour of the UNIPH units including the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Field Epidemiology Training Program and other programs including Mortality Surveillance/Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, Data Impact Program, National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) Acceleration, One Health, Border Health, National Integrated Surveillance System and the COVID-19 Situation Room.
It was highlighted that the UNIPH serves as the center for Public Health Emergency coordination of different sectors in government and was especially critical when it came to the COVID-19 pandemic response, offering space for the coordinating center for the entire response, both physically and technically.
The team that hosted the director also made mention of several efforts made by the institute towards global health security through various collaborations, workforce development and capacity building as well as prompt response to public health emergencies. The team wound up with appeal for support for institutionalization and consolidation of successes registered by the UNIPH as it moves towards the final journey of legislation.
Seated – Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Director General of Health Services; HE. Natalie Brown, US Ambassador to Uganda; Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, Atlanta, USA; Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, WHO Country Representative; Dr. Lisa Nelson, Country Director for CDC Uganda; Standing – Dr. Allan Muruta, MoH Commissioner Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance & Public Health Emergencies; Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, MoH Director Public Health; Dr. Amy Boore, Country Director for the Division of Global Health Protection; FETP Dr. Issa Makumbi, Manager Public Health Emergency Operations Center; Dr. Charles Olaro, MoH Director Curative Services; Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario, Director Uganda National Institute of Public Health; Dr. Julie Harris, CDC Resident Advisor for FETP; Ms. Juliet Namugga Kasule, CDC Uganda; Dr. Richard Migisha, Supervisor PHFP – Advanced Field Epidemiology and Mr. Daniel Kadobera, Program Coordinator PHFP – Advanced Field Epidemiology.