BY JOSHUA NIYONSHIMA
Residents in Kisoro district have critiqued the Kisoro district COVID-19 task force over alleged failure to report to the national COVID-19 task for better planning.
Appearing on Ikimeza program on radio Muhabura, Mr. Mbereyinka Bernard a renowned researcher in Kisoro district said that he was dismayed by the failure by the President Museveni to read Kisoro district COVID-19 results among the 20 most hit districts in the country.
“How can Kisoro COVID-19 results fail to showcase in the presidential address among the 20 most hit districts,” Mbereyinka laments.
Back ground
By the time of the presidential address that happened in the evening of Friday 18th June 2021, confirmed Covid-19 cases obtained through rapid diagnostic tests in Kisoro were over 260.
According to the Friday 18th June 2021 presidential address, Kampala is the most hit with 15,347, Wakiso 2,214, Gulu 636, Luweero 599, Mbarara 541, Tororo 352, Masaka 312, Busia 257, Jinja 222, Mbale 193, Mukono 177, Soroti 168, Mpigi 155, Kyotera 124, Arua 111, Yumbe 98, Kasese 98, Kiryandongo 96, Hoima 96 and Kabarole 89. This indicates that Kisoro district would have appeared 8th on the list of most hit districts.
Criticisms
Mbereyinka Bernard says that there is reluctance in COVID-19 reporting since the state of Covid-19 in Kisoro district has never showcased anywhere in presidential briefings on corona virus.
“For many times the president has addressed this nation on Covid-19 related matters, Kisoro has never been mentioned anywhere despite being a border district. Do these People report?” Asks Mbereyinka
In the same program, the LCV councilor Chahi Sub County Kazimiri Wilson called upon the medical teams to always submit the statistics to responsible offices for proper planning.
The Ikimeza show host Dennis Nsenga asked the district speaker to hold medical officers in Kisoro district responsible over failure to quickly respond to repeated phone calls.
“This is a war time, a time when we should all be alert in fighting the pandemic. I have called these officers and they are not responding, assuming now it is a person from the deep village wanting to alert them on an emergency?” Dennis Nsenga asks.
Dennis Nsenga adds, “Mr. Speaker hold your officers accountable, in fact you should invite them to this radio on our behalf for them to explain to the public.”
In response, the Kisoro district speaker Amos Hakizimana called the District Health Officer Dr. Stephen Nsabiyunva, who said they are still compiling data and will been updating media anytime soon.
In a phone call the Kisoro district Community Development Officer (DCDO) Mr. Niyonzima Sam argued that Kisoro district statistics must have been inclusive of the national tally. He adds that this is the time for unity in fighting against this pandemic.
Sam Niyonzima says, “Corona Virus is real, it is there, we should protect ourselves by sanitizing or washing our hands regularly with water and soap, observing social distance and staying at home.”
Defence
In a way of seeking clarifications on the criticisms made against the Kisoro district Covid-19 task force, Voice of Muhabura, on Sunday 20th June 2021, called the Kisoro district Assistant Health Officer who called the allegations baseless and lack of information by the accusers.
According to Nick Muneza, Kisoro district Covid-19 task force and the medical department in particular reports to the national Covid-19 task force daily as required by the Ministry of Health.
“No, we do report, those saying we do not report lack Information on how we work.” Nick referring to accusers.
“You have asked for information, have I not given you, and we usually give you, so how can we fail to report to the national task force.” Nick wonders.
He adds that if the task force does not report it would have been apprehended long ago. “If we do not report we can be apprehended,” adds Nick Muneza.
He further reveals that the test results that were displayed by the president on Friday 18th June 2021 were those obtained via PCR (polymerase chain reaction)- test yet Kisoro district is currently using RDT – (rapid diagnostic test).
Meanwhile, by the morning of Sunday 20th June 2021, Kisoro had confirmed 344 patients. 331 patients were under homebased care whereas 11 patients were admitted at Kisoro and Mutolere hospitals.
In a similar development, Health officials in Kisoro say the rate of response to medication and recovery is high Kisoro district having registered only one COVID-19 death. They continue to urge the public to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a better fight against the Pandemic.
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