The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda |THE INDEPENDENT |The Ministry of Health has discharged four patients including the first confirmed Covid-19 patient also known as patient zero.
Patient Zero is a 36-year- old Ugandan male who arrived from United Arab Emirates on March 21 and was later found to be positive with Corona virus Disease-COVID-19.
He and three other patients who have since recovered from the coronavirus disease-COVID-19 were discharged on Saturday afternoon from Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital.
They was discharged after testing negative for COVID-19 twice in the last two days.
Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng told the media that the individuals asked not to be discharged in public view and have also refused to be interviewed by the press.
Aceng however says they have been cooperative, undergone counseling and their communities and families are ready to receive them.
Aceng says 15 other patients have recovered and will only be discharged after their communities have been sensitised and are willing to receive them at home.
She also commended the hospital management, medical and surveillance teams for supporting the recovery process of the three patients and the other 27 confirmed cases still at the hospital.
The Director General Health Services, Dr. Henry Mwebesa allayed the fears of the community that recovered patients could infect them, saying theu were discharged from hospital after following certain procedures.
First, samples are tested in 24 hour intervals and once there are two consecutive negative results, a patient is deemed as having recovered from COVID-19. They are also required to take certain medicine and prevent themselves from reinfection.
The World Health Country Representative, Dr. Yonas Tegegn auded Uganda for discharging it’s first three recovered patients and Patient Zero, and said everyone must do their part to ensure there are no deaths.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda who presided over the discharge ceremony commended the Hospital Director, Dr. Moses Muwanga and his team for the work done so far.
He added that the hospital is proving that it will “become a centre of excellence in COVID-19 management”
He however says health workers should take precautionary measures to stay safe.
The Director of Entebbe Hospital, Dr. Moses Muwanga noted that the patients have been taken care of by a team of senior health workers.
He said some hospital staff took off when the first patient was admitted March 22nd and therefore only a few dedicated health workers are currently working on isolated and confirmed cases.
He said the first patient was traunmatised just like staff and this prompted management to provide pyschosocial counselling for both patients and staff.
He said treating patient zero and others have been a traumatic experience but also an opportunity for health workers to learn.
Entebbe hospital has been treating 30 of the 53 confirmed cases in Uganda.
The three recovered patients have spent at least 21 days in hospital.
15 others, including 7 at Entebbe hospital, are ready for discharge but the ministry is still still preparing their communities to receive them.
******
URN
During this period we only need to stand firm and help each other in the fight against this deadly virus covid19
Am wishing all Christians a happy and peaceful Easter week as we keep staying on our homes to avoid catching the covid19
For God And my country Uganda
It’s a good works done,but some people where saying that they can’t stay at their homes but that goes to the medical workers who supported the affected persons, The minister of health and the President of the Republic of Uganda for keep his broader points close.
It’s a good works done,but some people where saying that they can’t stay at their homes but that goes to the medical workers who supported the affected persons, The minister of health and the President of the Republic of Uganda for keeping his broader points close.