COVID-19: Kapchorwa hospital closed as health workers test positive for the virus
As the country battles with an upsurge in Coronavirus cases, the health workforce in Kapchorwa has been hit hard as over half of the workforce at the facility has tested positive for COVID.
Local authorities have temporarily suspended services at the facility as they wait for the Ministry of Health's intervention.
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According to Ayub Wangubo, a medical Superintendant at the hospital, at least two health workers have succumbed to COVID-19, living the rest of the staff in fear.
"If you have 20 health workers going to Kampala for COVID-19 treatment, 46 in isolation having been contacts, you literally have no manpower to continue providing services," Wangubo said.
The hospital is now handling only maternity and surgical emergencies.
According to Wangubo, as of Wednesday afternoon, the hospital had 74 in-patients.
" We screened our patients and those with minor cases were discharged to continue treatment from home. Those who were critical were referred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital," Wangubo said.
Wangubo linked the rise in Coronavirus cases to an upsurge of community cases in Kapchorwa.
He said that the first death incidence of COVID-19 in the district was mishandled as locals chased the health team.
Uganda currently has 6879 cumulative total of COVID-19 confirmed cases, with 2961 total recoveries and 69 deaths.
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