According to health experts, at least five percent of the persons that have moderate to severe forms of the disease end up in need of a ventilator because they cannot breathe since their lungs are immersed in the fluid.
Makerere University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has
expressed concern about the shortage of ventilators in the country. The ventilator
normally helps to deal with Acute Respiratory Failure for COVID-19 patients.
According to health experts, at least five percent of the persons
that have moderate to severe forms of covid-19 end up in need of a
ventilator because they cannot breathe since their lungs are immersed in the fluid.
Nawangwe says that the University in June together with Kiira
Motors developed Uganda's first locally made ventilator. He adds that the
ventilator was later presented to the ministry of health but they never responded.
The ventilator had to undergo a series of endurance and stress tests before
approval can be sought for randomized human trials from the National Drug
Authority and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology.
According to Nawangwe, the University engaged the government about
its capacity to produce enough ventilators for all health facilities around the
country at a reduced price, but the government seemed not concerned.
He indicates that the government should give the University one
billion to produce ventilators because of the high demand by the local health
facilities.
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The Deputy Executive Director Mulago Referral hospital Dr Rose Mary
Byanyima, says that the demand for the ventilators is high due to
increased cases of COVID- 19.
Byanyima states that regional referral hospitals cannot handle COVID- 19 leaving them
with overwhelming numbers to manage as they only have the capacity of 27 ICU
beds.
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Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health Spokesperson noted
that government has managed to procure Ventilators to address the growing
demand.
He insists that the government is aware of the increasing demand for the
ventilators to help in easing the pressure on hospitals caused by the COVID- 19
pandemic.
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A ventilator on an open market can be bought at 85 million shillings and
an average ventilator machine can be got at 45 million shillings from the local
importers.
Namugabi Eva
Freelancer