Nurses under their umbrella body, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU), have demanded that the Government compensates bereaved families of the medics who succumbed to COVID-19.

The president of UNMU, Justsus Kiplangat, said since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, over 50 nurses and midwives have succumbed to the disease.

They proposed that each bereaved family should get at least sh80m as compensation from the Government.

“For those who succumbed to COVID-19, we demand the Government to compensate their families. This is because the cost of getting a body from a private hospital is almost sh100m. So, how do you expect us to get this money?’’ Kiplangat said.

He made the remarks during a press conference held at Mulago Hospital in Kampala Thursday, July 22.

Kiplangat also called on the Government to release funds for risk allowance to nurses and midwives who are working in COVID-19 treatment centres.

He, however, appealed to the nurses to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as set by the Ministry of Health.

Kiplangat also implored the Government to ensure that personal protective equipment (PPEs) are readily available because it is the only way nurses and midwives can be protected from contracting the deadly coronavirus.

His appeal also follows reports that nurses are to likely miss their July lunch allowances.

The Government promised to enhance the daily lunch allowances for midwives and nurses in this financial year.

About a fortnight ago, the finance ministry announced it had released sh5.6 trillion for quarter one of the 2021/22 financial year, with a provision of sh32.3b to cater for lunch allowances of nurses and midwives.

The ministry permanent secretary, Patrick Ocailap, told journalists that the Government agreed to raise the nurses and midwives’ launch allowances from sh2,000 and sh3,000 to sh10,000 and 15,000 respectively, based on salary scale.

President Yoweri Museveni pledged to increase the lunch allowances while officiating at the International Day of Midwives and Nurses in Kitgum district in 2018.

Kiplangant also attended Ocailap’s meeting to ensure that the money was part of the release.

“We are grateful. Whatever little we have got, let’s consume it as we plan for more. I assure the Government that the nurses and health sector will work tirelessly, not because of COVID-19, but even on other diseases,” Kiplangat said during the meeting with the finance ministry officials.

On Thursday, Kiplangat said the nurses were supposed to start getting the increased allowance this month, but by the time the finance ministry released the circular on allowances, public service had already issued their circular for July salaries.

“The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Service has confirmed to me that the money will be paid with arrears of this month (July),’’ he told journalists.