According to records from the district health department, cases of malaria are common in Busiisi in Hoima West division, Kitoba, Kigorobya and Buseruka Sub Counties.
David Kyagondeze, the in-charge says that the facility lacks essential medicines such as anti-malaria drugs, antibiotics, vaccines and medical supplies such as syringes, gloves, catheters and gauze among others.
The Health Ministry delivered a total of 380,000 face masks to be distributed in 464 villages in the sub-counties of Kigorobya, Kitoba, Bombo, Buhanika, Kyabigambire, Buseruka, Kapapi, Buraru, Kijongo, Kisukuma, Kabaale and Kiganja.
Martin Lukwago, the Chief Administrative officer-CAO Hoima says that the masks delivered to the district are inadequate. He explains that they requested for 380,000 masks but only received 297,000.
Fredrick Byenume, the Hoima District Health Inspector, says they realised a huge number of people are infected during a community surveillance exercise they conducted last week.
The disease which manifests by severe and relentless itch has hit hard five sub-counties of Kyabigambire, Buseruka, Kitoba, Buraru and Kigorobya affecting both adults and children raising concerns among the residents and health officials.
The four are said to have entered the country through the porous border points of Lake Albert on May 30, 2020. They were sighted by residents who immediately alerted security and health officials who later picked them from Kijangi Landing Site in Tonya parish Buseruka sub-county.
Hoima Resident District Commissioner-RDC Samuel Kisembo told Uganda Radio Network on Wednesday that the Health Ministry decided to transfer some COVID-19 Patients to Hoima Hospital due to the limited space in Adjumani, where they had initially been admitted.
The detective tested positive for COVID-19 on May 1, 2020, during the Rapid Assessment survey conducted by the health ministry across the country. In the aftermath, all the 104 police officers who were manning Masindi Central Police Station were replaced and quarantined at Masindi police barracks together with their family members.
Robinah Nabanja, the State Minister of health for General duties says the distribution will be done in phases starting in the border districts and then move to other parts of the country.
Hand washing containers were set up in various public places in Hoima Municipality. However, most residents have abandoned the practice of raising concerns from medical workers.
Godfrey Sserwanja, the Hoima District Education officer-DEO told Uganda Radio network that they approached the Rapid Assessment survey team to have the teachers tested since the teachers interact with many people more especially the children they teach saying it was crucial for the health ministry to engage teachers in the COVID-19 testing exercise.
In March this year, Hoima and Kikuube District Security Committees suspended fishing activities and boat operations on Lake Albert to prevent the spread of Corona virus.
Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Health Minister Dr Florence Asiimwe says that most government health facilities in the region are not equipped with the necessary gear to protect themselves against such infections, despite working from the porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to research, more and more residents in the sub counties of Buseruka, Kitoba, Kigorobya and Kyabigambire, no longer seek prescription for malaria treatment, pain killers and antibiotics, a trend which endangers lives and is more likely to spur drug resistance.
The food relief that was handed over to the hospital management on Tuesday include 15000 kg of Posho,3465kg of beans,1400 litres of milk and 350kg of salt. The donated food items will only be distributed to inpatients.
Godfrey Abigaba, the Kibiro LCI Chairperson says that absenteeism of health workers has forced patients to walk for about 15 km to Kigorobya Health Centre IV.
