Masaka Hospital mental ward turns into coronavirus isolation center

HEALTH

Masaka Regional Referral Hospital mental ward has been turned into the second Coronavirus Isolation Centre to create more space in case the pandemic escalates.

Last month, the hospital secured Masaka School of Comprehensive Nursing Institute located in the hospital which accommodated close to 70 Coronavirus pandemic suspects.

The hospital Director, Dr Nathan Onyachi confirmed on April 2 saying the mental patient's wing was more conducive for the COVID 19 isolation centre.

"We have improvised another place for the mental ward patients, the ward can serve as a better environment for the Coronavirus suspects isolation centre, we need to isolate those who came close to the positive people and the suspects," he said.

He noted that the Masaka School of Comprehensive nursing beds are not favourable for the Isolation Centre.  "The bed deckers in the nursing school are good for our people in isolation," he said.

Onyanchi said the hospital has procured more beds to equip the two isolation centres.

 He said the hospital provides for posho and beans meals for the suspects in the isolation Centre. "The hospital feeds the suspects with meals including other patients accommodated for other illnesses," he said.

Dr Onyachi said the people must be extremely cautious to avoid the extension of the coronavirus lockdown. " We must take this situation seriously otherwise the lockdown can extend to four months if we are not careful, the science behind the 30 days of keeping at home is to  easily identify  new cases, carry out more tests, treatment and control," he said

He said that so far the vigilance among the members of the public is promising.  Dr Onyanchi said the regional referral hospitals will be empowered to manage the Corona pandemic in the near future.

He said fuel shortage and adequate sanitisers are among the challenges facing the hospital.

Responding over the matter Dr Onyachi said the hospital has been allocating at least 200 litres of fuel per day to support the operations of the Coronavirus task force.He said the fuel for Korea Foundation for International Health care (KOFIH) emergency medical services was diverted to Corona virus operations.

Dr Onyanchi  said the hospital has been facilitating the operations to truck down Dubai returnees and other suspects.

"We have run out of fuel in the hospital, the Coronavirus operations have proved to be costly, imagine we had to follow up suspects from as far as Mutukula border," he said.

  He said the security teams have been effective in the follow up of the suspects.The security team has done a good job in the follow up of the suspects in the communities," he said.

 Masaka Regional Referral Hospital handles Masaka, Kalangala, Rakai, Lyantonde, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule, Kyotera and Lwengo districts.

At least 31 suspects held at the Masaka Isolation Centre tested negative.  Among the suspects include four people from Rwanda, three from Somali two from the Czech Republic who were taken by their Embassy.

He said three cases of a Dubai returnee and his family members tested positive to Corona virus..

Masaka hospital received the first suspected case of Corona virus a fortnight when a fish trader who tested negative reported himself. The Masaka district Council Chairman, Jude Mbabali said the Coronavirus operations in Masaka have been affected by lack of funds and logistics.

He regretted that for the last two weeks medical, district leaders and security have been operating without funding.