Arua hospital hit by shortage of oxygen as Covid-19 cases surge

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Arua Regional Referral Hospital has been hit by a shortage of oxygen as the health facility struggles to contain cases of the new and more aggressive COVID-19 strain.

Arua hospital director, Dr Filbert Nyeko told the area COVID-19 taskforce that the hospital had admitted 58 patients over the last three weeks, and lost three of the patients in admission. At the moment, the facility has 13 patients, seven of whom can only be sustained on oxygen.

He says that the rate of consumption of oxygen by those admitted at the Isolation centre is overwhelming and requires immediate intervention, cautioning that the situation is likely to get worse if not handled with urgency, yet the facility is also dealing with a shortage of protective equipment and health care workers.

According to Amon Ngwiragaghe Kasereka, the 409 brigade public health officer, security personnel will swing into action to ensure full enforcement of the Covid-19 SOPs as directed by the President.

Meanwhile, Sister Jane Driwaru, a public health nurse in charge of Oli health centre IV in Arua central division said leaving out the community health workers has increased the capacity gap to sensitive follow up of positive cases and train community members in the fight against COVID-19.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Nile region has 5,880 positive cases admitted in various hospitals of which 292 were admitted at Arua regional referral hospital with 258 discharges.

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