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UNODC Donates High Dependence Unit Medical Equipment To Uganda Prisons Valued At USD 25,000

Kampala, 3 November 2021--The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-Uganda Programme Office on 3 November 2021 handed over medical equipment valued at USD 25,000 to Uganda Prisons Services (UPS) for the High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the Staff Treatment Centre at Luzira as part of its COVID19 response support to Uganda Prisons Service.

The equipment consisted of six Hospital Oxygen airflow splitters, 180 Oxygen non-rebreathe patient masks and ten hospital Oxygen regulators as well as 400 coveralls 478 face shields and twelve Oxygen cylinders. It was handed over to the Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons Services, who was represented by the Commissioner Health Services at UPS, Mr. John Bosco Tumwebaze by the UNODC –Uganda Head of Programmes, Ms. Sharon Lesa Nyambe at the Office of the Regional Commandant, Kampala Extra Region at Luzira.

The Commissioner General expressed gratitude to UNODC HIV/AIDS Section for providing the funding for the donated equipment.  Ms. Nyambe said that UNODC will continue to support Uganda’s efforts to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

This donation was in addition to what UNODC handed over to Uganda Prisons Service during the first wave of COVID19 lockdown that consisted of seven video conferencing equipment to facilitate virtual court hearings and ensured that prisoners continued to access justice. This in the end will reduce prison overcrowding.

During the first wave, UNODC also provided 32 phone handsets and airtime to Uganda Prisons Services to be used by prisoners in 16 COVID19 isolation centres to communicate with their relatives and lawyers during lockdown when prison visits were restricted.

This was in addition to other medical equipment and supplies that UNODC donated to the support 16 isolation centres in prisons.

UNODC has also provided sports equipment for prisoner’s recreation and development of talents and skills using sport. The organisation also provided fuel to transport 4,000 released prisoners to be safely reintegrated into their communities.

For further inquires:

Ms. Sharon Lesa Nyambe

Head of Office United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-Uganda

Email :Sharon.nyambe@un.org