Africa-Press – Uganda. HEALTH|COVID-19|CULTURE
MBALE – Health experts are worried about the escalating cases of coronavirus infections due to Imbalu in the Mbale region.According to Dr Jonathan Wangisi, the District Health Officer of Mbale, the region has become a hot spot because of the tradition of circumcision, coupled with political campaigns.Since there has been a lot of Imbalu celebrations across the region, Wangisi explained that “as health professionals, we have been trying to regulate circumcision, but we have not been very effective.”He made the remarks during the regional launch of the National community engagement strategy for Covid-19 held at Mbale Resort Hotel in Mbale district on Monday, December 21.Currently, Uganda has registered 32,399 accumulative confirmed cases of covid with 245 deaths.The meeting, which is supported by Seed Global Health, attracted participants from seven districts including Ngora, Bududa, Tororo, Namisidwa, Bukwo, Kapchorwa and Mbale. The launch aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of Covid-19 and mitigating its effects in the community.
Since Eastern Uganda has many community infections, Wangisi said the issue of Covid- 19 can only be resolved through community engagement.”I hope the community engagement strategy will help us to overcome some of the challenges we are facing as frontline workers,” revealed Wangisi.On the issue of home quarantine, Wangisi also disclosed that they have faced a lot of challenges with stigmatization, isolation and discrimination of people who have recovered from Covid-19.According to him, most people who are supposed to be in isolation, when you reach their residences, you see people moving around without wearing masks.While addressing participants, Prof. Francis Omaswa, the chairperson of the community engagement strategy sub-committee of the National Taskforce said community engagement strategy is intended to make all Ugandans aware that there is Covid-19.According to Omaswa, the strategy is intended to make Ugandans understand that it is their individual responsibility to protect themselves, their families, their communities and their members.
“Until the people themselves hold the strategy, it will not happen. We are telling people to wash hands frequently, asking them how easy it is to get water and soap. But we are not asking them what they are facing when a family member is suspected to be with Covid-19.” Omaswa noted.Dr Bonaventure Ahaisibwe, the Country Director of Seed Global Health Uganda, revealed that the community engagement approach will improve community participation, engagement and ownership on health in the context of Covid-19 for safe, healthy and productive population.According to Ahaisibwe, they are prioritizing the eastern region, particularly Bugisu sub region because there are very unique circumstances around imbalu.Ahaisibwe said this is a deliberate effort to ensure that they leverage the existing structures within the grass root in order to advance and promote ownership in response and mitigation of Covid 19.To mitigate the impact of corona virus, Ahaisibwe emphasized: “We need to protect the most vulnerable people, identify those who are sick very early and ensure they don’t spread the virus to those around them.”To identify efficient methods of managing corona viruscases, Ahaisibwe said there is need to disseminate a clear criteria on who can be managed from home and which homes have the ability to manage people with Covid-19.In addition, Ahaisibwe also said: “We train the current group of medical students, nurses and midwives to be empowered in order to ensure we have a generation of health workers who will be prepared to manage current and future epidemics,” explained Ahaisibwe.To reduce the increasing number of people dying from Coronavirus, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the State minister at the Health ministry asked all participants to pledge personal commitment in the fight against Covid-19.”We did well with prevention, tackled control. Currently, we need to focus on mitigation. Also, since we are giving power to the community members, people need to know their responsibility.” Kaducu stated.Since the country is in stage four with extensive community transmission, Moriku said it is vital to put emphasis on changing people’s mindset because most Ugandans have declined to follow the standard operating procedures.
