CENTRAL – Masaka District Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) Taskforce has received an assortment of medical supplies from Uganda Virus Research Institute-Medical Research Council-URI/MRC to support frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic.
The supplies include overalls, face shield goggles, disposable theatre masks, gumboots, N95 masks, sanitiser, infrared and clinical thermometers, Finger Pulse Oximeters and body bags.
Dr. Fred Mukasa Kibengo, a Senior Scientist at UVI/MRC and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says that they saw the need to support the task force for the good of the frontline staff and patients.
He explained that finger pulse oximeters are very important in monitoring COVID patients since they help to determine whether they are breathing enough oxygen or not.
Asporo Taremwa, the Deputy RDC Masaka, says that the donation comes at a time when some health workers are battling the deadly disease. He says that the front liners are excessively exposed to COVID-19 infection without enough PPEs.
Dr. Faith Nakiyimba, the Masaka District Health Officer, says that although COVID-19 cases are reducing in Masaka, there is no guarantee that they cannot shoot up again due to complacency.
She attributes the declining COVID-19 cases to the 42-day lockdown, which imposed restrictions on cross-border and cross-district movements. She thanked UVRI/MRC for the support, saying it will help in monitoring patients under home-based care.
Nakiyimba warned that if people continue ignoring the SOPs, the country may enter another wave of pandemic. She says that Masaka recorded 109 COVID-19 cases last week and the number reduced to 78 this week. She also revealed 12 people died last week and eight this week. Although there is some improvement, Nakiyimba says people ought to be even more careful this time.
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