Impacts and lessons learned from the local production of WHO-Recommended Alcohol-Based Hand Rub during Covid-19 Pandemic in Uganda.

Abstract In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease, COVID-19. The WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) as one of the measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. Objective To assess the impacts and lessons learned from the local production of WHO-recommended alcohol-based hand rub during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Uganda. Method Space for local production was identified at a health facility in Central Uganda that was air-conditioned and well ventilated. Volunteers were trained on the local production of ABHR. The volunteers were trained theoretically and practically for Four days; and each was able to produce at least a batch of ABHR. Logistical support for supplying the raw materials needed for production was from the Infectious Diseases Institute. There were also already established ABHR production units and trained staff on local production of ABHR in 2019 in the Kabarole and Kasese districts, respectively in Western Uganda. These districts were threatened by several outbreaks, including Ebola virus disease, and were monitored for ABHR production during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Result Two production units were set up during the Ebola outbreak, in awake of COVID-19, a production unit in Kasese, was able to produce 3020 litres, and the Kabarole unit produced 2020 litres respectively. A new production unit was set up at Kasangati HCIV in central Uganda and eight laboratory technologists trained on Local Production of ABHR, and within Eleven days they were able to produce 2300ltrs. Conclusion The initiative to produce WHO-recommended hand rub locally during an outbreak is feasible, especially in a resource-limited country like Uganda. There is a need to rapidly scale-up the production capacity of ABHR and to ensure and maintain quality assurance at each production unit.