Catholic Health facilities recovering from Covid-19 effects – Bishop Muhirwa

By Ben Musanje

24^th March 2021

The Catholic Church Health Minister, Bishop Robert Muhirwa has admitted that the church’s health systems were among those badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

Rt. Rev. Muhirwa who is also the Vice Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) and the Bishop of Fort Portal diocese says that negative effects left most of the Catholic health facilities laying off valuable workforce and others totally closed in severe instances.

He said this while delivering his Opening Address at this year’s two day Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB) Annual health assembly at sharing hall in Nsambya today under the theme: Ensuring Continuity of quality health services in the Catholic health work amidst a pandemic, national epidemic of other disasters and sustaining services in the post -disaster period.

His Lordship Muhirwa who has not disclosed the extent of the effects of Covid-19, is hopeful that the UCMB network will focus on defining their core health service capabilities which can be sustainable as a routine health care delivery during any public health emergency.

He says the network should build or strengthen critical infrastructure and transportation for ambulance as well as referral management to ensure continuity of emergency care and enable the challenges mitigation as happened with lock down.