Dr Lukwiya doesn’t deserve to be a hero!
Feb 19, 2003
SIR— I am not amused by the talk of making Dr Matthew Lukwiya a hero after he died during the then ebola epidemic.
SIR— I am not amused by the talk of making Dr Matthew Lukwiya a hero after he died during the then ebola epidemic. There is no heroism in this kind of death which results from obvious risky conditions in our hospitals. I was a member of the ebola task force in Mbarara, which was one of the areas that experienced the epidemic in 2000. It’s sad that Dr Lukwiya and other colleagues of ours lost their lives; but this does not mean that he and them were more caring and sacrificing than others.
Healthcare professionals at all levels of service are constantly confronted by situations that can endanger their lives. Recently we read a report that in Mbale Referral Hospital doctors are operating in the theatre using torches. What would you make of such doctors if any of them got an occupational hazard during the operation?
Dr Lukwiya worked under such risky conditions. If this country was giving us health insurance, it would be difficult to get compensation for our fallen colleague.
Mbarara experience supported by previous epidemics in other countries indicates that infection with ebola required a direct contact with an infected patient or their body fluids. The magnitude of direct contact is not clear. Eighteen members of staff and students of Mbarara University Hospital had direct contact with what was confirmed as an ebola patient during the epidemic and none of them contracted the disease or showed evidence of subclinical infection.
This and previous work elsewhere may suggest that simple skin to skin contact may not be enough to transmit the virus despite evidence that it becomes abundant in a patient’s skin. This may further suggest simply that basic and affordable infection control methods and facilities may be enough to prevent large outbreaks if strictly adhered to. Many obstacles challenge infection control in our hospitals. Hand-washing between every patient is difficult; the wards are full and busy; and sink facilities if available are limited. The use of gloves when in direct contact with body fluids and good techniques and disposal is a basic requirement. Isolation rooms should be available and used when necessary. Were such conditions available for Dr Lukwiya?
James William Mugeni
Mbarara
Healthcare professionals at all levels of service are constantly confronted by situations that can endanger their lives. Recently we read a report that in Mbale Referral Hospital doctors are operating in the theatre using torches. What would you make of such doctors if any of them got an occupational hazard during the operation?
Dr Lukwiya worked under such risky conditions. If this country was giving us health insurance, it would be difficult to get compensation for our fallen colleague.
Mbarara experience supported by previous epidemics in other countries indicates that infection with ebola required a direct contact with an infected patient or their body fluids. The magnitude of direct contact is not clear. Eighteen members of staff and students of Mbarara University Hospital had direct contact with what was confirmed as an ebola patient during the epidemic and none of them contracted the disease or showed evidence of subclinical infection.
This and previous work elsewhere may suggest that simple skin to skin contact may not be enough to transmit the virus despite evidence that it becomes abundant in a patient’s skin. This may further suggest simply that basic and affordable infection control methods and facilities may be enough to prevent large outbreaks if strictly adhered to. Many obstacles challenge infection control in our hospitals. Hand-washing between every patient is difficult; the wards are full and busy; and sink facilities if available are limited. The use of gloves when in direct contact with body fluids and good techniques and disposal is a basic requirement. Isolation rooms should be available and used when necessary. Were such conditions available for Dr Lukwiya?
James William Mugeni
Mbarara