By Jesse Johnson James
Gulu Regional Referral Hospital on Thursday afternoon discharged a total of 34 patients after recovering from COVID -19.
Of the discharged 26 are Ugandan truck drivers while eight are foreign. They were admitted to the hospital for treatment after testing positive for the virus from Elegu border point in Amuru district.
Dr. Paska Apiyo, a physician and the Head of Case Management at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital revealed that the hospital expects to discharge more when results return from the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
Dr Apiyo put the number of those expected to be released at 21.
According to Apiyo, the success that the hospital is registering in treating COVID -19 patients is attributed to self-motivated medical staffs who have dedicated their lives to serving humanity despite the challenges they are facing such as inadequate personal protective equipment.
Dr. James Elima, the Hospital Director revealed that out of the 26 Ugandan truck drivers who recovered, eight are residents of Wakiso, three from Kayunga, two from Soroti, two from Masaka and one each from Bukedia, Kyotera, Adjumani, Kitgum, Kanungu, Amuru, Iganga, Mukono, Jinja, Kamuli, and Hoima.
Elima added that the surveillance team from the hospital is working closely with the different District COVID -19 Taskforces in the region in contact tracing and admittance of positive cases.
Maj. Santos Okot Lapolo, Gulu Resident District Commissioner who doubles as the Chairman Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce appealed to the general public to stop stigmatizing those who recovered from the virus, saying stigmatization is one of the barriers in the fights against COVID -19.
Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the State Minister for Primary Health Care who was the guest of honor during the ceremony to discharge the recovered patients revealed that this is the highest number of recoveries Uganda has had.
“Today is the highest number for now since the outbreak of Coronavirus, Uganda has so far successfully recovered and sent back home,” said Dr. Kaducu
“None of you was sent to go and train to become a professor of Coronavirus, but you managed because you are competent and because you have the capability and potential,” the minister added.
The discharge of 34 brings the total recoveries from Gulu Regional Referral Hospital to 43 ever since the first patient was admitted to the facility on 1st May. Uganda so far have 161 total recoveries from COVID -19.
