Uganda Virus Research Institute-Medical Research Council-URI/MRC have donated an assortment of medical supplies to support frontline workers in their fight against the pandemic in Masaka District.
The supplies were received by the Masaka District Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) Taskforce.
They include; overalls, face shield goggles, disposable theatre masks, gumboots, N95 masks, sanitizer, infrared and clinical thermometers, Finger Pulse Oximeters and body bags.
According to Dr. Fred Mukasa Kibengo, a Senior Scientist at UVI/MRC and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, they saw the need to support the task force for the good of the frontline staff and patients.
Dr. Mukasa noted that the finger pulse oximeters are very important in monitoring COVID patients since they help to determine whether they are breathing enough oxygen or not.
Masaka Deputy RDC Asporo Taremwa says the donation comes at a time when some health workers are battling the deadly disease. He says that the front liners are excessively exposed to COVID-19 infection without enough PPEs.
According to Dr. Faith Nakiyimba the Masaka District Health Officer, although COVID-19 cases are reducing, there is no guarantee that they cannot shoot up again due to complacency.
She attributes the declining COVID-19 cases to the 42-day lockdown, which imposed restrictions on cross-border and cross-district movements. She thanked UVRI/MRC for the support, saying it will help in monitoring patients under home-based care.
