Dr. Patrick Odong Olwedo, the Amuru District Health Officer – DHO who also doubles as the Secretary to the Task Force says that although the district hasn’t recorded many cases of community infections; the resolution is aimed at flattening the epidemiological curve of the contagion.
Amuru
District Task Force has with immediate effect banned music systems and feeding
of mourners at funerals as one of the measures to curb the spread of global
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
The authorities say when music systems are used
at funerals, mourners end up dancing uncontrollably while feeding them
encourages violation of the Standard Operating Procedures like wearing masks
and social distancing.
The Task Force has also issued express directives to all households in the
district to arrange for the immediate burial of their loved ones who have
succumbed to the plague to avoid crowding of mourners.
Dr. Patrick Odong Olwedo, the Amuru District Health Officer – DHO who also
doubles as the Secretary to the Task Force says that although the district hasn’t recorded
many cases of community infections; the resolution is aimed at flattening the
epidemiological curve of the contagion.
//Cue in..."All health workers….”
Cue out… have it off head.”//
According to the Task Force Chairperson, Geoffrey Oceng Osborn, who also
doubles as the Resident District Commissioner – RDC, mourners always become
uncontrollable during meals thus increasing risks of infection.
//Cue in..."We have resolved….
Cue out… buried immediately,”//
In June 2020, Amuru lost a health worker to the pandemic while several others
were diagnosed and referred to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, local leaders in Serere district have resolved
that none of their Members of Parliament should visit their constituencies until
the 42-days lockdown imposed by President Yoweri Museveni is lifted.
Julius Odeng Ochana, the former Bugondo Sub County Chairperson, says that
the presence of MPs in the constituency draws people to concentrate in one place,
which violates the SOPs thus exposing both the MPs and residents to infection.
//Cue in “And we have also…
Cue out…not the case now,”//
Helen Adoa, the Serere Woman MP who doubles as the State Minister for Fisheries
urged her voters to remain patient as the move is intended to save both
parties.
// cue in “As leaders…
Cue out…to be infected”//
The MPs have been a source of support to the electorate especially during death
and other difficult or joyous moments. Overall, according to available
statistics from the Ministry of Health, Uganda has registered a record 2,012
death cases from 84,979 confirmed cases of the virus across the country. Over
1,700 of the deaths reported occurred in the months of May, June and early July.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
