On Thursday, the authority issued a notice to the public indicating that following the screening tests that were conducted early this week, one of the staff members was found positive and is currently undergoing case management.
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NIRA's letter of notice to the public as COVID-19 cases surge in Gulu
The National Identification and Registration Authority – NIRA has
temporarily closed its office in Gulu City after one of the staff tested
positive for Coronavirus Disease.
On Thursday, the authority issued a notice to the public indicating that
following the screening tests that were conducted early this week, one of the
staff members was found positive and is currently undergoing case management.
“As we manage the situation, the NIRA Gulu office will be temporarily closed
effective Thursday 27th May 2021 to avoid further spread of the infection until
Monday 31st May 2021 once the premises have been disinfected in line with
Ministry of Health guidelines.” The notice from management read in part.
NIRA management advised clients to access services from any of their offices
nearest to them except National ID card issuance for those registered at the
Gulu office. Currently, there is a surge in fresh community infections
following public laxity in observing Standard Operating Procedures – SOPs.
Dr Paska Apiyo, in charge of the COVID-19 treatment centre at Gulu Regional
Referral Hospital, observed that the public in Gulu have relaxed the fight
against the virus as SOPs are no longer observed like wearing face masks, use
of sanitisers and social distancing rules among others.
Dr Apiyo asserts that the centre has been receiving severe patients who mostly
end in the intensive care unit – ICU wards. She urged the public to embrace the
ongoing vaccination exercise against the deadly virus rolled out by the
Ministry of Health.
On Wednesday, the acting District Health Officer, Yoweri Idibia, also the
Secretary of the COVID-19 Task Force disclosed that one patient died of the
disease, bringing to 34, the cumulative death toll and over 1, 850 cases that
have been treated since April 2020.
Idibia explained that with the surge in cases, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital
and St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, the designated treatment centres are now
overwhelmed and dozens of other patients are being treated under the home-based
care system.
According to Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director-General Health Services
in the Ministry of Health, Uganda has cumulatively recorded 4, 4594 infections
of which 361 have died.
Journalist
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
