In March, the district health department was the first to receive 3,000 dozes of the AstraZenica vaccine from the Ministry of Health targeting 486 registered health workers but only 10 of them have been vaccinated since then.
Jackline Atim, a resident of Lorikor West in Elegu town council says the drivers and residents were freely mixing and interacting without observing the standard operating procedures aimed at fighting the spread of COVID-19 which includes face mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing among others.
The spraying exercise is part of a five-year USAID-funded project in several districts of Eastern Uganda. It will involve the use of Fludora-Fusion, a new vector control solution that was recently prequalified by the World Health Organisation, after being tested against more than a dozen of resistant mosquito strains in Sub-Saharan Africa. The exercise will last 24 days, effective April 26.
Dr Odong, says health workers had to come first to show an example to the general public to embrace the exercise. He rubbished misinformation making rounds on social media about the vaccines, saying the vaccines underwent all the required standard tests before approval.
Natukunda Tryphena, an ambassador representing the Young People Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda says due to weaker anti-stigma policies put in place by the government many clients are forced to abandon treatment due to stigma by some members of the community.
Due to stigma, Amuka says, many young positive are forced to abandon medication, while some commit suicide as a result of psychological torture by some medical workers, parents and members of the community.
According to Okao, two of the 217 victims in the district died after being returned to their parents when the center collapsed a year ago. He asks Ministry of Health to consider reopening the Centre to support the rehabilitation, care and treatment of such children.
Grace Aninge, the Principal of the College says they want to use their space in both campuses to manage social distancing rules as a recommended standard operation procedure (SOP).
According statistics obtained from the surveillance and case management committed, there 28 active cases that have not been evacuated for treatment in Omoro; 35 in Gulu, 7 in Nwoya, 15 in Amuru, 6 in Lamwo, 5 in Kitgum and 168 in Aswa Hydropower Dam.
Dr. James Elima, the l Director Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, says they haven’t paid food suppliers for four months. He says the situation has forced them to suspend providing breakfast to patients and cut down on the meals from three to one each day.
The Linglong bus registration number UG-0391H, attached to the Ministry of Health was evacuating 25 patients from Kitgum District to the national treatment centres in Kampala. The patients were on Monday turned away from Gulu Regional Referral Hospital due to space constraints.
Dr William Onyai, the District Health Educator revealed that the population in Gulu District and Gulu City continues to register cases of intestinal worms; river blindness, elephantiasis, flurry worms, bilharzia and lymphatic filariasis among others.
The exercise kicks off this morning in Serere, Soroti, Kalaki, Kaberamaido, Pallisa, Bukwo, Kween and Kapchorwa districts. According to the Ministry of Health, distribution teams have also arrived in Alebtong, Amolatar, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bulambuli, Butaleja, Butebo, Dokolo, Kibuku, Lira, Mbale, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Otuke and Tororo districts.
The Task Force Chairperson Maj. Santo Okot Lapolo, also Resident District Commissioner says that the distribution of the face masks to the population was greatly affected lack of finance and human resources.
A 14-day lockdown had been imposed on Gulu, after a pronouncement by President Yoweri Museveni to maintain restrictions on areas that had evidence of community transmissions of the virus. At the time, there were 43 active cases of COVID-19 undergoing treatment at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
The leaders argue the hospital is overwhelmed in offering comprehensive healthcare services among which includes physiotherapy, training healthcare workers and promoting health researches in Northern Uganda.
Robert Okitoi, the Amuria District LC V Chairperson, says the hospital is understaffed with several gaps that need urgent attention. He observes that since the facility elevated to a General Hospital, nothing much has changed.
The staffs are concerned that while the COVID-19 pandemic is claiming lives in different parts of the world, Soroti Hospital isn’t providing enough protection to health workers to enable them to execute their duties. URN has learnt that the facility has been receiving only 20 pieces of masks every week against the total number of 34 staff on duty each day.
At Serere Health Center 1V, a proposed district hospital, only 965 mothers came for antenatal care in April compared to 1,267 in March when the lockdown was announced. Records at the facility also indicate that only 170 babies were delivered at the facility in April compared to the 203 in March.
