Health officials say that they are moving the country’s preparedness level from ordinary to advanced. During this advanced level, more travel bans are expected on countries with high COVID-19 cases.
The Ministry of Health has asked the public to remain calm in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak in some East African countries.
Health officials say that they are moving the country’s preparedness level from ordinary to advanced. During this advanced level, more travel bans are expected on countries with high COVID-19 cases.
Atek Kagirita, the COVID 19 incident manager at the health ministry says that they have moved to advanced phase preparedness.
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According to Kagirita, the country is going to institute strict preventive measures such as attaching medical officers to all quarantined people. The ministry is also going to put in place stricter travel policies that might include banning flights from certain high risk countries like those in category one.
As of last week, 16 countries including China, US, UK, Belgium, Spain, and Italy were all in this country. The president is expected to announce new travel restrictions and the country’s preparedness plan tomorrow.
Data from researchers in China shows that the most susceptible ages are infants or children and adults above the age of 65 years. Data from the Mundi index shows that approximately 49.8 percent of Ugandans under the susceptible age groups are likely to be affected by the disease.
Despite such high numbers, the health ministry is confident that while Uganda has no case of COVID 19 yet, the country can handle any outbreak.
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According to Kagirita, if a COVID-19 case is declared in the country right now, everybody and institution is ready enough to move in a organized way. If a suspected case is reported today, the health ministry would send a team to the location to get a blood sample. The sample would then be taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute for testing.
Once confirmed, the suspected case will either remain home where they shall be looked after by a family member (preferably one below the age of 65 with no pre-existing conditions) and be supervised by an assigned health worker for mild cases. If the suspected case turns out to be severely ill, they will be rushed to hospital. Kagirita says they plan on admitting very few confirmed cases due to the nature of the disease.
“From research that we have seen, the disease causes severe reactions in only 20 percent of all victims. So we know that 80 percent will have mild symptoms. Those can be treated at home because if we try to admit them into hospitals, we shall over flood our hospitals,” Kagirita said.
All mild cases will be traced by the health ministry on a daily basis to enable hospital referrals when some cases turn acute.At regional hospitals, tents will be used as treatment centers. In Kampala three hospitals have been designated.
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If the disease spreads and numerous cases reported, Mulago Nation Referral hospital which has been undergoing renovations and rehabilitation works will be used.
According to the minister of health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the hospital has more than enough space to handle any disease outcome.
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At the beginning of February, the health ministry shared its COVID-19 preparedness plan. One of the preventive measures the health body had planned on carrying out was public sensitization. At the moment, Africa had not reported any cases.
More than six weeks later, many traders in Kampala claim not to know COVID-19. Many believe it is airborne and are running to pharmacies to buy surgical masks. With more than 300 cases reported in Africa, the World Health Organisation believes that collective effort in fighting the disease can have a big impact.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director general recently during a press briefing called upon the entire world to play their part in fighting the disease.
“This disease affects everybody. Governments, people and companies all have a part to play. This is a pandemic that can be controlled and overcome if everyone plays their part,” Dr Tedros said.
Globally, figures from WHO show that 173,344 people have been infected with the disease from over 152 countries. In Africa, over 300 cases in 25 countries have been recorded.
Story by Pamela Mawada
