COVID19: Government recruits more health workers

Government has embarked on a recruitment process for over 220 health workers to support the COVID-19 response in the country. These include 40 epidemiologists, Medical officers, Nurses, anesthetists and lab technologists. This was contained in an update to parliament by the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda on the outbreak of COVID19 in Uganda. Dr. Rugunda also says that orientation of the health workers to provide psychological support to health workers, quarantined individuals and confirmed cases is also ongoing across the country. He however says the COVID19 response should not affect other services offered by hospitals. “Other routine health services at health facilities like immunization, maternal and child health, reproductive and other services should continue”. He said. He also adds that in order to increase the numbers of people screened for the virus, government is considering adopting the rapid diagnostic test kits pending approval from the world health organization. Uganda has 44 cases of COVID19 with nine of these children.