Security urged to exercise high levels of sensitivity while implementing Covid-19 directives

The ministry of Health has requested the enforcement officers/ security personnel to exercise the highest levels of judgment and sensitivity while implementing the newly issued presidential directives on Covid-19, particularly on health workers and patients.

Security forces have on several occasions been accused of beating and frustrating the movement of health workers, patients and other vulnerable groups from accessing different health facilities, especially while implementing Covid-19 directives.

Following the new directives issued by the president in his address of Friday June18 2021 to the country on Covid-19, containment measures.

The ministry of Health also streamlined the movement of health workers and patients during the countrywide lockdown period.

"The ministry is mandated to maintain essential and emergency medical services. This mandate entails movement of health and frontline workers in both public and private facilities (doctors, nurses, midwives lab technologists, pharmacists and allied health professionals," said Dr. Charles Olaro.

He said the movement of patients encompasses; emergency patients, scheduled patients for drug refills (HIV/AIDs, TB, diabetes, cancer and hypertension) and those with scheduled clinic appointments.

"With the new containment measures, the Ministry of Works and Transport will be responsible for issuing movement permits for 10% of the crucial staff within all Ministries, departments and Agencies (MDA) through an online system," Olaro said.

In the districts, Olaro said that the movement permits for health and frontline workers, both in public and private health facilities will be issued by the district health officers (DHOs).

"All health workers should move with the movement permit, their work identification cards and those without should be given authorisation letters by the heads of the health facilities to enable easy movement to their respective facilities," he advised.

In Kampala, Olaro noted that health workers should move with both their work IDs and national IDs between Friday and Monday as they wait for movement permits to be issued by the ministry of Works and transport.

He said the movement permits will have a QR code which can be used to verify the particulars and validity of the permit.

On Covid-19 vaccination, Olaro said that the ministry will in due course be providing a comprehensive plan for those due for their second dose and for the priority groups.