Gov’t provides additional oxygen equipment to Regional Hospitals

The government of Uganda through the health ministry has dispatched additional oxygen cylinders and concentrators to supplement existing plants in regional referral hospitals.

 

This, according to Dr Charles Olaro, the director clinical services, is in preparation for any eventualities regarding an upsurge in COVID-19 cases.

 

Oxygen is vital for COVID-19 patients whose situation turns severe and are often admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

 

With respect to other necessities, such as personal protective equipment, Olaro urged hospitals to place orders early enough to ensure that procurements are done fast.

 

“The National Medical Stores supplies health commodities to regional referral hospitals. However, if demand increases, these hospitals should be able to make requests early enough,” Olaro said.

 

The current hospital beds to manage COVID-19 patients stand at 3,793.

 

These include 927 beds at Mulago National Referral Hospital, 60 at Mulago women’s hospital and 1,165 in various regional referral hospitals.

 

Other gazetted treatment centres include Namboole treatment unit with a total of 1,300 beds, Bombo Military Hospital with 130 beds and seven accredited private health facilities with 211 beds in total.

 

Briefing the country on the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, President Yoweri Museveni said Government will continue to mobilise non-traditional treatment facilities in the form of field hospitals to provide additional capacity for asymptomatic to mild and moderate cases.

 

“In the worst case scenario, should cases rapidly escalate and overwhelm the above bed capacity, Government will install a 300-bed field hospital per regional referral hospital, thus providing additional 4,500 beds,” Museveni said.

 

On Sunday, Museveni said the current rise in COVID-19 infections in the country can only be stopped if all the people take personal responsibility to protect themselves, their families and communities where they live and work.

 

“I would like to remind you all that COVID-19 control and prevention is a responsibility of everyone. I, therefore, urge all Ugandans to adhere to the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs — wash hands with soap and water frequently, wear face masks, social distancing, avoid mass gatherings and touching your mouth, nose and eyes,” he warned.

 

Museveni said failure to adhere to the SOPs will exhaust the available bed space and oxygen supply in hospitals, adding that the current wave of infections has not only led to severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients, but also higher deaths than what was experienced in the first wave of the pandemic.

 

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