The minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng on Tuesday 11th October discharged 5 health workers that have been undergoing treatment for Ebola at the Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital Isolation Unit for the last 3 weeks.
The discharged health workers are Dr. Morris Opio, Eria Zakayo, Dr. Hudson Kkunsa, Caleb Komuzungu and Dr. Albert Nkwasibwe who contracted the virus three weeks ago while responding to an Ebola outbreak at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital.
During the event, Aceng observed a moment of silence for the 2 medical workers that lost their lives to Ebola.
Aceng urged the health workers to take their lives as a priority and should take all the necessary precautions while handling patients especially those that present with suspicious signs and symptoms. “Please your are our heroes and great ambassadors to emphasize the need for protection so never examine the patients without gloves” she said.
Aceng also appreciated all the health workers for the unwavering efforts towards serving the citizens of the country.
She also appealed to the public to avoid stigmatizing people that have been treated and discharged once they go back to the community since they are certified by the ministry being free from the disease.
The minister also said that 5 districts have recorded cases of the virus including Mubende and Kabarole. A total of 54 cases have been recorded, 19 deaths and 20 recoveries including the health workers that have been discharged.
Among the 19 people that have since succumbed include a Tanzanian Master’s student Dr. Muhammad Ali and 58-year-old Anesthesiologist Margaret Nabisubi.
Dr. Kkunsa one of the 5 that have been discharged appreciated all the medical workers starting with their fellows in Mubende where they contracted the virus, Fort portal and those at Entebbe.