Africa-Press – Uganda. HEALTH|COVID-19|DEATH
MITYANA – Residents of Mityana district are in panic following the death of three people who had been admitted at Mityana General Hospital with Covid-19 symptoms. Edward Muganga, the district information officer, said they had tested the three, but they died before results could be released. One of them was an expectant mother, who died together with her new-born baby. The bodies were released to their relatives for burial. Muganga said one of the challenges they are facing is the delayed release of COVID-19 test results to the district. “It takes up to a week to get the results. These people died before we could confirm whether it was COVID-19. “However, we handled them as COVID-19 suspects,” Muganga added. The number of COVID-19 positive cases in Mityana has risen to 131, with three deaths. Muganga expressed concern over some local leaders who have failed to enforce the standard operating procedures. When President Yoweri Museveni visited Mubende recently while on his campaign trail, a few leaders were denied a chance to meet him after testing positive for COVID-19. Muganga said some of the leaders refused to remain in isolation. “Some of them rejected the results, saying it was a trick to block them from meeting the President. They have continued to move freely, which is bad,” he said. Muganga also blamed some politicians for gathering supporters as they campaign. Dr David Martin Kizza Ssemambo, who is vying for the Mityana municipality member of parliamentary seat, urged his fellow candidate to be mindful about the pandemic. “We should mind about the lives of our people because we need them alive. We are not going to lead or represent dead people,” Ssemambo warned. Hand-washing, sanitising, social distance and mask wearing are the key SOPs that have largely been ignored by the public.
