36 health workers in Kagadi district contract Covid-19

Kagadi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 36 health workers in Kagadi district have tested positive for the deadly COVID-19. The affected health workers are from Kagadi General Hospital, Kabugo and Muhorro health center IIIs.

Many health facilities in the district are operating with inadequate or no PPEs, putting the lives of the medics in danger.

Kefa Madira, the Kagadi district head of COVID-19 case management says that the workers contracted the deadly virus after the second wave of the pandemic was reported in the country.

Madira attributed the increase of the cases among health workers to lack of Personal Protective Equipment-PPEs. He adds that several health facilities have run out of gloves, sanitizers, face shields, gowns, and aprons among others.

The health workers are currently being managed from their respective homes under the COVID-19 home based care management because they are not critically ill.

Yosia B Ndibwami, the Kagadi LC V chairperson says that it is worrying that more health workers could get infected with the disease.

He has tasked the health ministry to immediately intervene and allocate enough PPEs to Kagadi district to save the lives of health workers.

A health worker at Kagadi General hospital who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity explains that they are currently working in a risky situation since the health facility has run out of the PPEs.

Last month, health workers at Masindi General Hospital laid down their tools due to lack of PPE, leaving several Covid-19 patients stranded.

Most of the health workers noted that all the PPE including face masks, gloves and sanitisers that were given to them got used up two weeks ago and they cannot continue to attend to patients especially those with COVID-19 cases without the protective gear.

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