Bishop Janani Loum, the regional in-charge of surveillance and case management at the facility explains that the shortage of essential medical supplies is a result of the surge in the number of patients and their contacts in the community.
Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Covid-19 treatment center has run out of essential medical supplies. They include
among other personal protective equipment, detergents and test kits.
The PPE consists of gloves, face shields, goggles
and boots among others.
Bishop Janani Loum, the regional in-charge of surveillance and case management
at the facility explains that the shortage of essential medical supplies is a
result of the surge in the number of patients and their contacts in the community.
For instance, Janani cites over 2,000 primary contacts that have
already been identified by the Task Force surveillance team, backed by the Ministry
of Health and World Health Organization – WHO officials.
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Some of the contacts were traced following the infection of 154 inmates
including one Prison Officer from Amuru Prison last week. Over 500 primary
contacts have also been identified in Kitgum District following 17 cases of
infections.
The District Health Officer – DHO Yoweri Idiba, says the task force also has
pending tests for several institutions like banks, Civil Society Organizations
– CSOs, hotels, supermarkets and markets in the city that require testing.
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Idiba further says that they have already approached the Ministry
of Health about the need for the medical supplies, especially nasal
swabs.
According to Maj. Santo Okot Lapolo, the Chairperson of the Task Force who also
doubles as the Resident District Commissioner, the resource constraints like
fuel and limited vehicles for continues to slow down response activities.
Up to 392 confirmed COVID-19 patients have cumulatively been
admitted at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital out of which 188 were discharged.
There are 217 active cases in the treatment center 153 inmates from Amuru.
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.
