Support to urban poor and disadvantaged children with food and basic needs relief

Ugandans recognise the political, social, pshchological and economic implications of the 42 days lockdown, as measures to suppress public gatherings have become a common feature of the Corona virus transmission prevention. But on a personal level, Ugandans lament the economic exposure these measures have brought.

For those in what the Economists call the ‘hand-to-mouth’ category of workers; their financial security depends on highly personalised efforts – especially in the gig economy – which along with the rest of the informal sector employs 80% of the Ugandan workforce, and contributes 50% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). It is them who have been hit hardest by a severe economic meltdown resulting from the stringent lockdown measures. They have lost their jobs and their businesses have been padlocked. Like all countries fighting the novel coronavirus, Uganda was faced with the dreadful choice of either ruthlessly damaging the employments of her people through prolonged lockdowns, or to sacrifice the lives of scores to the sickness. Unlike previous epidemic preparedness measures, such as Ebola, the response to Covid-19 has ruptured everyday routines and rhythms of people in the cities.

Therefore, the main fear bugging most Ugandans is not the virus, but rather the isolation measures that have significantly disrupted people’s means to make an income. For that reason, people continue to brave the streets to work. For instance, street vendors continue scurrying to the windows of vehicles in traffic lights and jams. Without masks, they bark the prices of their merchandise to the motorists, who, petrified by a prospect of contact, swiftly raise their windows, fearing the street could become the epicentre within Uganda. These vendors cannot afford to isolate at home, or should I say the verandas of commercial buildings, unless they want to starve to death. The street is their workplace, livelihood and home. Others in this category include: Commercial Motorcycle/ Taxi drivers, saloon operators, wheel barrow pushers, private school teachers, and many others in the informal sector all comprising of close to 300,000 people in my community.

I call upon Well-wishers and friends of Program for Relief in Education And Community Health (PREACH) Uganda to come and save lives of the neediest yet productive communities around Busoga Region by donating funds to foot the purchase of medical items like: Facemasks, hand sanitizer, gloves, soap, (zink, Vitamin C &D supplements, Azythromycin, Dexacycline) tablets, bicycle ambulances for pregnant mothers and food items i.e rice, maize flour, ginger, herbal food supplements, salt etc so as to reduce the risk of deaths that now stand at at least 10 people per a 1000 population per day due to lack of access to food and essential medicines and consumables-A basic right and need.

Our Purpose: "We acknowledge the duty that accompanies every right".

Henry Wakabinga

Executive Director Program for Relief in Education And Community Health (PREACH) Uganda

Tel: +256750442440

Email1: [email protected]