Today, we’re launching our Corona Virus Emergency Appeal.
Here are the breakdowns of how the money will help:
Corona Support Masaka
Uganda Marathon and our partner EcoBrix have developed the following areas of support for Masaka during these unprecedented times.
Masaka Referral Hospital:
This is the main hospital for the whole region of Masaka with a catchment area of six districts. One of the first confirmed cases of COVID 19 was found at this hospital it is at the epicentre of the region and nations crises.
It is also very under equipped for this pandemic. We have been linking with Dr Onyachi the hospital director to ensure we support the most needed and urgent processes required at the hospital. These have been identified as the following:
- Safety equipment for staff – Doctors, Nurses, Cleaners, Cooks are all putting themselves at risk as they support the neediest at the hospital. They are the community’s life line and we want to support them to keep safe and feed.
| Gloves (disposable) | boxes (100) | 35,000 |
£8 |
| Gloves(size 7.5) | 50 pairs box | 50,000 | £11.40 |
| Gum boots | various sizes | 30,000 | £6.90 |
| Theatre scrubs | suits various sizes | 50,000 | £11.40 |
| Alchohol hand rub | 50mls | 10,000 | £2.30 |
- Isolation Spaces – The hospital lacks proper isolation facilities for identified cases. They require temporary structures and tents to ensure those that have been diagnosed with COVID-19 can be fully isolated from other patients at risks. Also they need to be able to track down cases in the community and follow up on people who have come into contact with those confirmed cases.
| Tents | 100 seated | 3,000,000 | £682 |
| Tracking of community cases | Tracking for a period of 1 week | 1,000,000 | £227 |
- Hygiene facilities – The hospital requires more public hand washing facilities at the entrance to the hospital gates and as entering each department. Water tanks to support these facilities need to be fitted.
| Cleaning tools (brushes, squeezers, mops) | Full set for the hospital |
450,000 |
£102 |
| Spraying pumps | 20 litre | 100,000 | £23 |
| Spraying pumps | 2 litre | 10,000 | £2.30 |
| soap (liquid) | 20 Litres | 40,000 | £9 |
| Soap (powder) | 1 Kg | 6,500 | £1.50 |
| insecticide | tins | 25,000 | £5.70 |
| Serving dishes | sets | 350,000 | £80 |
- Increased Patients – The hospital has already seen an increase in patients and requires more facilities to house them. Water proof mattresses, blankets and feeding capacity all need to be increased.
| Mattresses | 4″ with water proof cover (black or brown) 3’x6′ | 150,000 | £34 |
| Blankets | washable | 80,000 | £18 |
| Bed sheets | 3’x6′ (pairs), cotton | 50,000 | £11.40 |
| towels | cotton | 50,000 | £11.40 |
| Menstrual pads | dozens | 6,500 | £1.50 |
| Drinking water | Boxes (24) | 12,000 | £2.80 |
| Bathing soap | tablets | 3,000 | 70p |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch, supper | 25,000 | £5.70 |
| Mosquito nets | 3’x6′ square | 20,000 | £4.50 |
| Plates | dozens (melamine) | 50,000 | £11.40 |
| Cups | dozens | 50,000 | £11.40 |
| Saucers (side plates) | dozens | 10,000 | £2.30 |
| Tea boiler | 10 litre | 700,000 | £160 |
| Toilet paper | dozens | 20,000 | £4.50 |
| Slippers | pairs | 5,000 | £1.10 |
| Tooth brushes | pieces | 1,500 | 35p |
| Tooth paste | tube | 1,500 | 35p |
| Buckets | 10 litre | 5,000 | £1.10 |
| Basins | 10 litre | 5,000 | £1.10 |
| Jerry cans | 10 litre | 5,000 | £1.10 |
- Infrastructure – The hospitals back up power systems are in desperate need of repair during this emergency. As well the need for better industrial washing machine facilities to improve staff and patient safety and reduce risk of cross contamination.
| Power systems repair | 2,500,000 | £568 | |
| Window glasses replacement | Across all wards | 700,000 | £160 |
| Dustbins | 250 litre | 700,000 | £160 |
| Rechargeable lamps | 80,000 | £18.20 | |
| power extension cables | 35,000 | £8 | |
| Megaphones | 100,000 | £23 | |
| Wall clocks | 80,000 | £18.20 | |
| Washing machine | Fully automatic | 3,000,000 | £682 |
| Electric kettle | 300,000 | £68.20 | |
| Desktop phone | 450,000 | £102 | |
| Fridge | 3,000,000 | £682 | |
| Laptop and printer | 3,000,000 | £682 |
Food Security Program
2.5 million of Uganda’s population are part of the informal job sector. With a lock down in place and no public transport in operation they have no financial safety net to fall back on and no government support to rely on. With schools closed there are also more mouths to feed at home and those that were on free school meals programs have one less meal available. It is estimated that the precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 might even cause more fatalities than the virus itself. It is therefore a necessity to plan for food needs for the vulnerable in the community.
- Food Distribution – Working with the office of Resident District Commissioner (RDC) we have devised the following plan in line with government plans to support the most vulnerable households. Using the Uganda Marathon charity network and the Local Chairman system. Families will be identified as most in need and will be provided with the following:
PER PERSON:
- Posho – 6kg = 18,000 £4
- Beans – 3kg = 12,000 £2.70
- Salt 1 pack – 1,000 30p
PER HOUSEHOLD:
- Soap – 3,000 – 70p
TRANSPORT OF TRUCK REQUIRED:
- Fuel – 10,000 £2.30
For a cost of only £10 this will feed each individual in the house for a minimum of 2 weeks and can be sublimated with food already available to these households. Each house will also receive a one page flyer of information about the food program so as they understand what to expect and don’t becoming fully reliant on the program alone.
- Community gardens – Churches and the Buganda Kingdom have large plots of un-used land in Masaka in which we can plant our target crops. We can then use the local charity network of Uganda Marathon projects, churches and the Local Chairman leaders to help identify the most vulnerable families to benefit from these crop yields.
Maize 50kg – 200,000 – £45.50
Beans 35kg – 160,000 – £37
Tractor for ploughing Fuel only – 450,000 – £102
Labour for maintaining farm *2 local staff – 400,000 per month required for 3 months 1,200,000 – £273
This program when harvested can feed 100 people when harvest is ready in two and half months.
- Each of the vulnerable households above identified in Food Distribution Program will also receive some basic fast growing crops. These crops can be utilised in their own spaces of if none available at community gardens specifically identified. Each of the vulnerable households will receive the following under the planting program:
PLANTING PROGRAM:
- Beans 3kg – 15,000 £3.40
- Maize 2kg – 8,000 £1.80
For £4.20 you provide food security for family of four
We are in close communication with all the members of the newly established Emergency Team in Masaka so as we can ensure that we support in the best most pro-active manner.
But all this requires financial support and with crises just starting in Uganda it is imperative that we act now. So please if you can use our donate button to support our efforts to protect the incredible community of Masaka as we fight this global pandemic. 100% of all donations will be going directly to the cause without any taken for admin purposes. We all really appreciate your support.
The appeal hopes to raise £27,000 to feed hundreds of families, and prepare the Hospital and staff for the crisis.
Thank you
