COVID-19: Health Facilities In Jinja, Mubende Overwhelmed By Surging Cases

By Mariam Namakula

Health facilities in Mubende and Jinja districts are being overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases, leaders have said.

Ms Mary Nyakwera Baguma, the Mubende Resident District Commissioner, said more than 36 patients were sent back home since they could not be admitted to any hospital.

Ms Baguma said of the 25 patients that were admitted to the health facilities, 15 are in critical condition and so far seven have died.

“We still think that there are many more that have died of the disease only that they haven’t been admitted to any hospital,” she said this week.

She added that the health facilities only had 65 oxygen cylinders, which have all been consumed by patients in critical condition.

Ms Baguma also noted that the facilities have resorted to designating other areas into Covid-19 treatment centres to handle the cases.

“The TB ward is now reserved for the Covid-19 patients,” she said.

In Jinja District, Dr Richard Luvaluka, an epidemiologist, said the number of cases has risen to 110 in the past few weeks although these have been contained.

“We have now switched to distant homecare treatment due to the increasing numbers,” he said.

He said the patients were being provided with the information to help manage the condition from their homes, and that the medical team would only monitor the patients through visits or phone calls.

Dr Luvaluka also noted a shortage in testing equipment due to increased demand for the service.  

He said the health facilities were now considering patients that have been working with the health team as first priority for testing.

Dr Luvaluka, however, noted it’s hard to trace contacts due to the community spread unlike in the previous wave.

“The most important thing is not treating the patient only, but also those in contact,” he said.

The country has seen an increase in Covid-19 cases. From 200 cases per day in April, the country is now recording more than 1,000 cases per day.

The country was expected to receive 175,200 AstraZeneca vaccines by Wednesday.