100 patients flee Masindi Hospital over Ebola fear

Dec 09, 2000

ABOUT 100 patients have fled Masindi Hospital following the delay to bury four people who died of Ebola in the isolation unit last weekend.

ABOUT 100 patients have fled Masindi Hospital following the delay to bury four people who died of Ebola in the isolation unit last weekend. Two bodies were buried on Thursday near the hospital mortuary after a protest in the town against burial of the four on government land at Ihungu, 3km outside the town. The other two were to be buried at Kaduku II, Kigumba sub-county yesterday. A senior-nursing officer, Sr. Makoro, said there were only two patients remaining in the male ward, three in the maternity ward and none in the female, children's and private wards. Makoro said the hospital had a bed capacity of 112 but the patients had been disappearing slowly, while others requested to be discharged. Sources said some doctors and nurses had also asked for annual or sick leave while others deliberately do not turn up for duty. Some nurses at the hospital yesterday complained of exhaustion. Dr. Imaam Mutyaba, the Medical Superintendent, said the medics were few and overworked. He said the burial team had also abandoned duty after being stigmatised. Medical, burial and social mobilisation teams arrived from Mulago and Gulu hospitals yesterday to boost the district task force. Ebola has so far killed 14 out of 25 patients in Masindi district. Five patients were discharged while seven others are still receiving treatment. Ends.

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