MPs ask govt to test all Ugandans for COVID-19

HEALTH VIRUS

Members of Parliament have implored the Government to carry out mass testing of all Ugandans for COVID-19.

According to the MPs, the rate at which COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing in the country is worrying, thus the need to test all Ugandans, to be able to treat those infected, to avoid further spread of the virus.

"We should walk to the nearest health centres and get tested. We do not have the right figures of the number of Ugandans with COVID-19.

"The people being tested are those getting in contact with those detected to have COVID-19," Dokolo District MP Cecilia Ogwal, said.

She noted that with the reopening of schools and airport for tourists, Uganda is likely to register more cases of COVID-19.

Ogwal said before the schools can reopen, the Government should consider testing both students and the teachers, to avoid rapid spread of the virus.

"Even the medical workers are getting scared because there is a general rise in the number of cases," Ogwal noted.

Uganda has confirmed over 7,000 cases, with over 70 deaths and 3,647 recoveries across the country.

To be able to contain the virus, the MPs want the Government to go beyond testing only contacts of COVID-19 and consider testing all Ugandans.

"The case of mass testing is so paramount. We have so many contacts and contacts of the contacts, but it seems the Government has no capacity, yet we were informed that we had so many donations from well-wishers. 

"Donors gave so much money and we do not know where that money is. Recently, we were told that the money was stolen," Gilbert Olanya (Kilak County), said.

Olanya said one of the health workers in his constituency had tested positive for COVID-19, to which the Ministry of Health was alerted, but that it has never gone to isolate or test the contacts.

He added: "They said there were no test kits for COVID-19.

All these medical officers are still in these centres. We do not know what is going on."

Busia Municipality MP Geoffrey Macho asked the Government to borrow a leaf from Kenya, which he said has offered free testing services to its nationals, especially those at the border between Uganda and Kenya.

"In Uganda, they are conditioning us to pay sh240,000.

"The poverty levels of people are high. Sh240,000 is capital that can do a small scale business," Macho said.