COVID-19: Kampala City a hot spot

HEALTH | COVID-19 | KCCA 

On Christmas Eve, Uganda registered a cumulative 33,360 confirmed cases of coronavirus of which over 13, 823 cases are in Kampala that has become the epicenter of the pandemic.

The cases in Kampala make 54% of the national caseload and of the 254 people who succumbed to the virus, 118 died in Kampala since the beginning of the pandemic.

"On a daily, we receive on average about 400 cases that are positive (these include travellers). We have collected to date 20,693 samples from alerts, suspects and travellers," the Executive Director Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Dorothy Kisaka disclosed.

"Most cases are now being handled at homes so a team of community surveillance officers monitor their wellbeing together with the village health teams," she added.

In addition, sample collection is done from the KCCA Public facilities and the community.

"We have about 500 health workers at the frontline and 80 surveillance officers across the Divisions of Kampala. These need to be protected," she said.

Protecting Kampala frontline workers

Given the highly contagious nature of the virus and increasing infection, health workers in Kampala have received a donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) worth $100,000 (sh370 million) from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The protective gears include surgical masks, respirators, examination and surgical gloves, heavy duty aprons and goggles, liquid soap and hand sanitisers.

The beneficiaries are health workers at the China Uganda Friendship (Naguru) Referral Hospital and Kawempe National Referral Hospital.

In addition to health workers in six KCCA health facilities including Kisenyi Health center (HC) IV, Komamboga HC III, Kisugu HC III, Kiswa HC II, Kawaala Health Centre HC III and Kitebi Health Centre HC III.

"We at UNFPA are cognizant of the unique challenges that this pandemic presents to the healthcare system at the moment. Commodities and supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE) among others will enable health workers to perform their duties with confidence and patients access Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights services without fear," the UNFPA Country Representative Alain Sibenaler said.

The bearing

According to the Director of Health Services (Curative Services) in the Ministry of health, Dr Charles Olaro, Kampala city is a melting pot for economic activity and the most populated area in Uganda.

"This big population translates to more demand and utilization of social services including health care."

"I would like to thank UNFPA for considering the two high volume facilities of China- Uganda Referral hospital- Naguru, and Kawempe National Referral Hospital. Indeed, these facilities are referral facilities that offer services to the population from Kampala and across the country," he said.

Dr Olaro encouraged health workers to keep the focus on offering quality health services in the context of COVID-19 and also urged health workers to use protective commodities and supplies donated rationally to ensure their personal safety, as well as the patients they care for.

"We are glad for the thoughtful gesture to the COVID-19 pandemic response during this festive season. In these unprecedented times of COVID-19, such a contribution is critical to ensuring continued provision of essential Health care services to the population," he said.