Uganda’s minister of health, Jane Ruth Aceng said that the health system is presently overwhelmed, with hospitals running out of admission beds.
She said that the ministry can no longer trace contacts of patients because they are too many.
She urged families with coronavirus patients to reach out to the ministry for testing.
The number of deaths according to health experts, is going to increase now that community cases are on the rise.
Dr Monica Musenero, an epidemiologist and also a senior presidential advisor affirmed that more deaths should be expected in the country.
She explained, “Our health system is overwhelmed with cases right now and in such circumstances, we should expect more deaths. People are acquiring the disease but are home because there are no hospital beds. They cannot get treatment. In the end, we should expect more deaths.”
Ministry of Health, permanent secretary, Dr Diana Atwine affirmed that all the hospital beds the ministry had set up for coronavirus patients have all been filled up.
According to the Health ministry, “Over 60 per cent of the reported deaths had other existing comorbidities. The majority had either high blood pressure or diabetes.”
Dr William Worodria, the COVID-19 case manager explained that they are experiencing more deaths because so many people seek care late.
“The disease has already spread in so many communities but people are not willing to go to hospitals early. Someone starts feeling sick but does not want to suspect that it might be COVID, so they remain home until it is too late,” Dr Worodria stated.
