DP asks government to establish community isolation centres for Covid-19 patients

The Democratic Party (DP) has asked government to establish community isolation centres where Covid-19 patients that cannot isolate at their homes can be safely accommodated as the country continues to battle the virus.

The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 80% of the Covid-19 patients have mild or moderate symptoms, these do not require hospitalisation since the situation can be managed at home.

Okoler Opio Lo Amanu, the DP spokesperson, said that people can be referred to home isolations however, given the nature of most homes, it makes it difficult for one isolate.

In a statement, he noted that the government can use the facilities of nearby schools to achieve this since students are home.

He said that through such centres, government will even be able to feed the poor as opposed to their method of identification of those that deserve relief money that is based on speculation.

"The other issue is for government to decentralise Covid-19 management by establishing Covid-19 community advisory teams. These will ensure that their communities observe Standard Operating Procedures, they will remind the community members to police each other but in a friendly manner, “he said.

He said the teams will ensure that Covid-19 deaths are handled scientifically as opposed to what is happening in communities today.

Opio said that all Covid-19 deaths are supposed to be handled scientifically by a team of scientists however with home referrals people have resorted to burying their dead.

He said there are many Ugandans battling this pandemic and the number is increasing day by day to the extent that the health system is being overwhelmed.

"Unfortunately, being that Uganda's health system is sick and sickening, the people continue to lose their lives in a manner faster than what we would experience if we had a robust healthy system," he said.