Doctors demand for PPEs to save their lives

By Charles Katabalwa

6^th January 2021

Doctors under their umbrella body the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) have challenged government to improve on the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to save them from being contracted with Covid-19 pandemic at their places of work.

This comes after the sudden death of Dr Charles Kiggundu, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who succumbed to Covid-19 after failing to get ICU bed and also Dr Fred Kigozi, a senior consultant psychiatrist and former director of Butabika Mental Rehabilitation Hospital, died of lung-related complications.

The former president of UMA and a Workers parliamentary candidate Dr. Anthony Ekwaro Obuku during the Covid-19 and workers compensation consultative meeting at jokers Hotel Bweyogerere on Wednesday said health workers work in a risky environment whereby they have no specified medication separated for their treatment once infected with the pandemic despite their responsibilities of providing treatment to covid19 patients.

Obuku says that there is a need for health workers to have 100% of the Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) as long they are on duty that can expose them to Covid-19.

According to Dr. Mukuzi Muhereza, the UMA general secretary, the number of registered health workers who have succumbed to Covid-19 stands at 17 but they are looking forward to contact the Ministry of Health to confirm.