The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Uganda has remained consistent in curbing spread of the virus and through various interventions has kept the death toll very low.
Kampala, Uganda | Patricia Akankwatsa | New rankings by World Statistics website Worldometer have placed Uganda among the top countries that are managing the COVID-19 pandemic better globally.
The country which is currently undergoing the second total lockdown after the emergence of the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus has so far recorded only 989 deaths from 79,434 positive cases confirmed.
Out of the total 79,434 positive cases recorded since March 2020, 52,382 have so far been treated using both local remedies and pharmaceutical remedies and have totally recovered. 26,063 remain active with a meager 1,211 cases being critical.
This places Uganda on top of many developed economies both in Africa and overseas in as far as management of COVID-19 is concerned including our East African counterparts Kenya, West African giants Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, among others.
Kenya has so far recorded 3,621 deaths out of 183,603, South Africa has recorded 60,264 deaths, Nigeria stands at 2,120, Morocco stands at 9,292 and Tunisia at 14,843 deaths.
On the international scene, the United States leads the log with 619,980 deaths followed by Brazil at 516,119, India at 398,484, Mexico at 232,803 deaths among others.
Despite the emergence of the Delta COVID-19 variant, Uganda has remained consistent in curbing spread of the virus and through various interventions has kept the death toll very low.
The good strides in the management and control of the COVID-19 can be attributed to the vigilance of the general public, government policies which are being implemented to curb the spread and the unwavering efforts by the ministry of health which have not only advised policy formulation but supported in capacity building for health facilities to handle the virus.
From the onset of the first lockdown in March 2020, the health ministry embarked on development and refurbishment of regional referral hospitals which are currently handling the bigger load of COVID-19 cases across the country.
By December 2020, a total of 143 Intensive Care Unit- ICU beds complete with ventilators and patient monitors had been secured and distributed to various health facilities across the country to support the efforts of fighting COVID-19.
Mulago National Referral Hospital and Regional Referral Hospitals of Lira, Jinja, St. Mary’s Lacor, Mbale, Entebbe, Kawempe, Mbarara, Soroti, Naguru, Kabale, Hoima, Arua, Bombo, Fortportal, Moroto, Mubende and Gulu were the beneficiaries of the project.
Despite the availability of ICU beds and improved hospitals, the measures can never be efficient if preventive measures are not taken to curb the spread of the virus among the population.
The government through the ministry of health has been campaigning for vaccination with AstraZeneca vaccine, a drive that is still ongoing. A total of 964,000 doses were imported in the first batch all of which were administered to willing members of the public with major emphasis on the elderly and frontline workers.
An additional 175,200 doses were further imported in the second batch that arrived in the country last month and they have been distributed to various districts to continue with the vaccination drive.
Among other interventions, the ministry acquired 98 type B and type C road ambulances which were evenly distributed under the regionally coordinated ambulance system to all regions of the country.
Preventive messaging on local radio stations and television have also played a big role in educating the general public about the standard operating procedures that can enable the general population to steer clear of COVID-19 even as they go about their daily duties.
