Turkey donates bicycles to help Uganda fight virus

By Hamza Kyeyune

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - The Turkish government has donated 100 bicycles to Uganda’s COVID-19 national task force to ease transportation for healthcare workers amid the pandemic.

Kerem Alp, Turkey’s ambassador to Uganda, handed over the bicycles on Thursday to the task force, a committee led by the prime minister to mobilize relief and pool resources to combat COVID-19 in the country.

Alp said his country heeded the Ugandan president’s call to support the healthcare sector in its challenges to respond effectively to the pandemic.

The bicycles will ease transport for healthcare workers in the districts of Sembabule and Kitgum, where most of the front-line health workers lack transport to hospitals. According to Alp, the bicycles are designed to cater to both male and female users.

Ruhakana Rugunda, the prime minister, thanked the Turkish people for responding to Museveni’s call to support the campaign against COVID-19.

Uganda currently has 160 confirmed cases, with 63 recoveries and zero deaths.

Several other Turkish humanitarian organizations have contributed relief items including food to vulnerable Ugandans, including the Foundation for Education and Solidarity (FES), the CARE Foundation, and Turkey Uganda (TURUGA) TADD, among others.