The Minister of Health Hon Dr Chris Baryomunsi has called for renewed attention to staffing challenges at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), noting that infrastructure and equipment investments must be matched by adequate human resources.
Dr Baryomunsi made the remarks today, while speaking at the Institute’s 90th anniversary celebrations, held under the theme “Celebrating 90 Years of Discoveries and Global Impact,” where he said government is currently supporting salary enhancements for scientists to help address critical human resource shortages in the country.
He added that government is also supporting personnel in the humanities to help the country cope with broader economic pressures.
The Minister congratulated Uganda Virus Research Institute for creating meaningful lives through its decades of work, noting that in countries where institutional mortality is high, many organizations struggle to survive even a single year.
Minister Baryomunsi noted that the fact that Uganda Virus Research Institute endurance for 90 years, is therefore a remarkable milestone.
He emphasized that virology plays a crucial role in reducing the country’s disease burden, making Uganda Virus Research Institute a strategically important institution and the Ministry of Health was proud to join the institute in celebrating the invaluable contributions of both former and current staff, as well as the partners who pioneered research at the Institute.
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While addressing the question of whether Uganda Virus Research Institute remains relevant after nine decades, the Minister affirmed that it is more important than ever, and called on partners to continue investing in this strategic institution.
The Minister closed his remarks by inviting the 1st Deputy Prime Minister,
While speaking at the same event the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, cautioned that the World Health Organization and Uganda should stop declaring states of emergency over just one or two cases of hemorrhagic viruses such as Ebola without conductingenough Research.
Rt Hon Kadaga, however congratulated Uganda Virus Research Institute on the milestone and requested that Prof Pontiano Kaleebu’s leadership consider awarding medals to the Institute’s most loyal and dedicated staff.
Prime Minister Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja noted that the NRM government has helped steer Uganda’s development and said that through scientific innovation, the country’s life expectancy has risen to over 60 years.
Reading from the President’s speech, she noted that Rockefeller Foundation’s initial funding to Uganda Virus Research Institute in its infancy was a major reason the Institute has survived up to today, celebrating 90 years of discoveries and global impact.
She said Uganda Virus Research Institute has not only placed Uganda on the global map but has also guided national health policy with unwavering competence and added that the National Resistance Movement Party appreciates the strong surveillance systems, innovation, research and trust the Institute has built over the years.
Rt Hon Nabbanja commended Uganda Virus Research Institute efforts in the fight against polio, noting that the new regional polio laboratory stands as a symbol of health security and called on investors to continue supporting Uganda’s health sector to help free citizens from the burden of disease.
