26/08/2020
MANAGING THE NEW WAVE OF COVID19 INFECTION IN UGANDA August 25, 2020
by
Dr Frank Rubabinda Jr.
Uganda Medical Association Welfare Chief 2019-2021
Let me put it in my own words.
Another lockdown is like Uganda going to all out war against Kenya over the Migingo Islands.
The Human cost, the Economic cost, the Public Relations cost that both Uganda and Kenya would loose in that war would not be worth ‘the pride of having your sole flag flying over the rock Island'.
The first lockdown achieved its objectives:
☑️ Bought us time to prepare the minds of the public.
☑️ Government came up with a response strategy - Hand hygiene, face protection and social distance.
☑️ Get the MoH to prepare COVID treatment centers
☑️ Reduce inflax of infection from beyond our boarders.
Now that this is achieved,we can't keep running away from this virus because it is here with us and for a long time.
This is what I would advise:
1️⃣ Continue the current public awareness messaging and strengthen enforcement on personal & public measures (MoH SOPs) - hand hygiene and face masks plus Social distancing in public spaces.
2️⃣ Stop admitting every CORONAVIRUS positive person to COVID 19 treatment centres, only admit persons with moderate to severe symptoms of COVID 19
3️⃣ As soon as the COVID 19 person admitted becomes asymptomatic, discharge them to continue care from home.
Don't wait for them to test negative first.
2 & 3 above will reduce the patient budden at the COVID 19 treatment center freeing the limited resources and personnel to care those that truly need the care at the centre.
The doctor at this centre can then make calls to and take calls from patients being cared for at home.
4️⃣ Stock up on PPEs for health workers, stock up on Oxygen and other supportive medical supplies at the COVID 19 treatment centers.
Increase TAT (turn around time) for tests to under 6 hours, provide approved medical grade PPEs to all health workers nation wide.
5️⃣ Increase the number of COVID 19 treatment centers kitted up to the levels described in 4 above.
6️⃣ Upgrade COVID 19 evacuate ambulances to the level of , accompany each ambulance with a military police or ordinary police lead car.
Let these ambulances respond to call from CORONAVIRUS positive patients that have been getting care from their homes and require evacuation to the treatment centre or require check up from the COVID 19 treatment team.
7️⃣ Create mobile COVID 19 treatment and rapid response teams. Station them in these ambulances mentioned in 6 above.
Each team must have a COVID 19 trained Doctor, Nurse and an Emergency Rescue Technician.
Investment in the above as you let the rest of the country to continue to open up steadily as the MoH deems it fit.
HERD IMMUNITY AND CONVALESCENCING BLOOD PLASMA WILL SAVE US LONG BEFORE (IF EVER) THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE DOES.
We can do it Uganda, we have the science and the social capital to pull it off..
Mgt....
