COVID-19 committees struggle to get alternative centres

Gulu School of Clinical Officers

COVID-19         ISOLATION

The pressure is mounting on districts using learning institutions as isolation and quarantine centres for coronavirus suspects to get alternative centres as the opening of schools to candidate classes nears.

When the pandemic broke out in the country in mid-March 2020, the district COVID-19 task forces turned several learning institutions into either isolation or quarantine centres.

However, the acting commissioner of public health in charge of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Gerald Mutungi, has directed all districts to find alternative isolation and quarantine centres before schools re-open.

 Gulu School of Clinical Officers

In Serere district, the management of Serere Secondary School has issued a three-day ultimatum to the district Covid-19 task force to vacate the school premises.

Geoffrey Okiswa, the Resident District Commissioner for Serere, who also doubles as the chairperson of the district Covid-19 task force, says they were given up to Sunday to leave the school.

He reveals that following the directive, the district task force has written to Justice Law and Order requesting them to allow the district to use its uncommissioned building at the district headquarters as an isolation and quarantine centre.

 RDC Okiswa

According to Okiswa, the district decision to use Justice Law and Order structure meant to house the Police and the magistrate based on its strategic location.

Meanwhile, in Ngora district, the task force has resolved to shift the quarantine centre to Ngora Fred Car Hospital from Ngora Comprehensive School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Bernard Eumu, the LC5 chairperson Ngora, says the district is yet to sign a memorandum of understanding with Ngora Fred Car Hospital management to allow them to renovate one of its structures.

In Gulu, the tension is high as the district's task force clashed with the management of the Gulu school of clinical officers after the task force reportedly cut the school fence at night and placed about 20 patients in isolation inside the school dormitories.

 Bernard Eumu

According to the school principal, Grace Aninge, everything that is being done is without their consent.

"This situation is going to put our students at risk of contracting the deadly COVID-19. Our preparations to resume studies have been disorganised. If our property is vandalised, we will press charges against the task force leadership," he said.