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By Goodluck Musinguzi
Ministry of Health has opened the 7th Ebola treatment Unit with a 32-bed capacity at Mulago National Referral Hospital in the Capital City of Kampala. This facility will help in the preparedness against any infectious disease, especially the Ebola-Sudan strain.
Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health thanked all the partners who have made it possible for the construction of the new Ebola treatment unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
“As of now this semi-permanent centre is acting as a treatment centre for confirmed Ebola- Sudan virus or any suspected case will be handled. The centre has a laboratory that is able to help in case of any outbreak”, said Dr Jane Ruth Aceng
She said this centre will also act as a training centre for medical workers in Kampala and surrounding areas so that they keep updated in managing infectious diseases.
The newest 32-bed treatment unit in Mulago National Referral Hospital was built with the support of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under the leadership of the Ministry of Health in Uganda.
“The new Mulago Ebola treatment unit will enable us to strengthen our Ebola preparedness and response activities in the country. We welcome our partners’ timely support to equip the facilities,” said Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Acero, Uganda’s Minister of Health.
Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, World Health Organization Representative to Uganda said they have been working closely with the Ministry of Health and other organizations on the ground since the beginning of the outbreak.
Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital thanked the Ministry of Health for considering them for the second Ebola Treatment Unit.
“We provided space when the first index case was found in Kampala and we handled the contacts. Knowing how Kampala Capital City is densely populated, we need such isolation centres in case of any other outbreak of infectious diseases”, Dr Byanyima said.
Byanyima said the Ministry of Health and the Development Partners have been able to sensitize the schools around and the community on the importance of the Ebola Treatment Unit in the area.
She said they are going to use the two Ebola Treatment Units to train their staff and others from Kampala and neighbouring districts in handling infectious diseases and control so that they don’t spread to the health workers and patients.
“We hope the health workers trained will create such spaces in their respective hospitals and health centres. This will reduce panic and improve preparedness in the handling of patients with infectious diseases”.
