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Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kitgum District Covid-19 taskforce is stuck with 24 Covid-19 patients after they were turned away by Gulu Regional Referral Hospital treatment center because of space constraints.
William Komakech, the Kitgum Resident District Commissioner who also doubles as the Covid-19 task-Force chairperson told URN in an interview Monday that the patients have now self-isolated in their homes.
He, however, says the patients, who are from Kitgum municipality, haven’t received any treatment for the past four days since their results were returned by the Health Ministry.
According to Komakech, the situation is worrying and calls urgent intervention by the Health Ministry to contain further spread of the contagion within the community.
The treatment center at Kitgum General Hospital that has 20 beds was established at the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in April this year.
But Dr. Geoffrey Okello, the Acting Medical Superintendent Kitgum General Hospital who heads the Covid-19 case management, says that they are unable to commence treatment as they await guidance from the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Okello says there is need for urgent guidance by the Health Ministry on the current situation and what ought to be done.
Dr. James Elima, the Director Gulu Regional Referral Hospital confirmed to URN in an interview that they are no longer admitting more patients because of lack of space.
He says the treatment unit with a capacity for 40 patients is now crowded with 123 Covid-19 patients from all corners of the Acholi sub-region.
“We are too full, Kitgum district health officials should now wake up,” he said.
At least one person has since succumbed to the contagion in Kitgum district and 204 other tested positive for the virus since March this year.
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