COVID-19: Kabale authorities considering recalling health workers from leave

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kabale district health authorities are considering recalling all junior health workers on leave to boost manpower in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Reports from Kabale district health department show that the operations of the district COVID-19 taskforce are being hampered by inadequate manpower.

Alfred Besigensi, the acting Kabale district health officer says between 10 and 15 of the over 300 health workers in the district take leave each month.

He says in consultations with all relevant authorities, the district health department has resolved not to grant more monthly leave to health workers until COVID-19 is under control.

Patrck Besigye Keihwa, the Kabale district LC5 chairperson, says their decision to recall the health workers is meant to ensure that they keep their surveillance on COVID-19 at peak.

He urges the affected health workers to accept the recall in good faith.

Paddy Mwesigye, the chairperson Kabale Municipal coronavirus surveillance team, says that they have so far collected blood samples from five people who returned from Dubai between March 4th and 22nd, 2020 and dispatched them to Uganda Virus Research Institute Entebbe for analysis.

Uganda has so far registered 44 cases of Covid-19, according to the Health Ministry.

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