Masindi Hospital Health Workers Abandon Patients Over Lack of PPE

Health workers at Masindi General Hospital have laid down their tools due to a lack of Personal Protective Equipment- PPE.  This has left several covid-19 patients stranded.

Most of the health workers who spoke to Uganda Radio Network on condition of anonymity noted that all the PPE including face masks, gloves and sanitizers that were given to them got used up two weeks ago. They say that they cannot continue to attend to patients especially those with COVID-19 without the protective gear.

“We are also human beings that need to be accorded appropriate protection like other Ugandans and therefore we demand safer working conditions and more personal protection equipment to help us fight the coronavirus pandemic and other diseases at Masindi Hospital. This working condition is not appropriate,” said one of the nurses.

By Tuesday patients who had been admitted in the two covid-19 wards over the weekend had not yet been attended to and were considering relocating to private health facilities.

Fred Edema who is taking care of his brother says that they were admitted at the hospital on Friday last week and by Tuesday morning, his patient had not been attended to.

Edema says that he is considering taking his brother back home.

Rose Atugonza, from Pakanyi Sub County, says that the condition of his brother is deteriorating.  She wonders why the hospital management can’t provide PPE to the health workers so that people can get better services.

Jane Kyosimire from Bwijanga sub-county explained that since Sunday no health worker has attended to her sister.
Patrick Baguma, the Masindi District Health Officer says that he was not aware of the challenges being faced by the health workers and the patients at the hospital. He however promised to follow up the matter.

Simon Baguma, the hospital administrator says they are currently handling the issues affecting the health workers and called for calm among the patients. He says the hospital management has engaged the health workers. URN