Seven Health Workers Contract Coronavirus in Uganda

Seven frontline health workers in Uganda have tested positive for Coronavirus.

The affected health workers include three nurses, two doctors, and two senior-level staff, according to Uganda’s Health Ministry.

Two of the affected health workers have been handling Coronavirus patients at Lira Regional Referral Hospital.

The two including a lead nurse and medical officer have been admitted at Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital while the rest are at Mulago Specialised Hospital.

Dr. Moses Muwanga, the Director of Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, said the two health workers from Lira Hospital are in stable health and under close monitoring.

Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital currently has 45 coronavirus patients, most of whom are long-distance truck drivers.

According to the Health Ministry, experts in infection, prevention and control, case management, and psychosocial management are investigating to establish how the health workers contracted the virus.

However, Dr. Stephen Ayella, the Deputy President of the Uganda Medical Association hinted on inexperience and staffing shortfalls as possible leads to the infection at Lira Hospital.

“The team of 14 health workers has never handled an infectious disease like Ebola or COVID-19 and they were also overwhelmed after receiving 21 patients in five days,” said Ayella.

At least 22,000 health workers have been infected with COVID-19 in 52 countries since the pandemic broke out.

Contributed by Ahmed Wetaka, Kampala-Uganda