Kalisizo Hospital chairman succumbs to COVID-19

HEALTH   VIRUS

Kalisizo Hospital fraternity is mourning the death of the chairman of the hospital's management committee who succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

John Ssansa Mutagejja, 72, also the former Lwankoni LCIII chairperson, died on Tuesday at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition last week.

Mutagejja tested positive for COVID-19 at Kalisizo Hospital prompting the authorities to refer him to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for special attention.

According to Dr Emmanuel Ssekyeru, Kalisizo Hospital Medical Superintendent, Mutagejja's condition was not critical initially but gradually worsened.

"He (Mutagejja) reported to Kalisizo hospital when he was not feeling well. We screened him and his samples returned positive prompting us to refer him to Masaka regional referral hospital," he said.

Ssekyeru said his family was put in isolation to contain the spread of the virus.

He added that the community transmission is increasing and members of the public are encouraged to adhere to the Ministry of Health guidelines and report the suspects and contacts for urgent response.

Dr Nathan Onyach, the Director Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, told New Vision that Mutagejja was admitted at the treatment facility on November 20, 2020, and he has been receiving treatment.

He added that the patient had hypertension in addition to his age which disadvantaged him. 

Onyach further explained that people above 45-years and others with diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS are susceptible to Covid19.

"He has been on and off oxygen since he arrived at the treatment centre. He had shown great improvement on Monday but we are saddened that he passed on," he explained.

He attributes the increasing number of cases in the region to people's failure to comply with the health ministry's guidelines of wearing facemasks, hand washing and keeping distance.

According to Onyach, there are 186 cumulative cases in the region and over 70 have been put in self-isolation.

Comorbidities

According to Onyach, people with comorbidities and health workers who fail to protect themselves are at high risk of succumbing to the disease. 

Comorbidity, he explained, is simply a condition where a person has multiple medical conditions at the same time.

He further reiterated that the elderly population and people with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension and cancer must be implored to wear masks, wash hands and maintain physical distance.

He added that the caretakers of the elderly people and patients plus the health workers handling outpatients are currently the target of the sensitisation campaign.