Naboth Isaac Niwagaba.
apearlnews.com
There was excitement on Thursday as Rubanda District Local Government launched distribution monthly allowances for the Village Health Teams to enable them to carry out designated activities in the fight against COVID-19.
The launching ceremony was held at Rubanda Town Council Headquarters and the first beneficiaries were VHTS from Nyakabungo and Kigyeyo wards in Rubanda Town Council.
The VHT fund is intended to empower VHTS in the mobilization and coordination of COVID-19 response at the village level. Each village received UG X 300,000 for three months and they are expected to share another 100,000 for the Village COVID-19 task forces.
The launch was witnessed by Rubanda District LC.5 Chairperson Stephen Kasyaba, Resident District Commissioner Peter Rwakifari Kibondo, and Bubare Town Council LC.5 Councilor Obed Mutatiina alias Kitabutuka.
The Rubanda District Health Officer Dr. Abdon Birungi explained that Government had budgeted 100,000 for each village, which meant that in case the VHTs are more than one, they would have to share the money amongst themselves. He further explained that shs. 300,000 given to the VHTS today was for three months which are July, August, and September.
The VHT fund is part of the 340 million that was recently disbursed to Rubanda district to facilittate management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
VHTS Enock Turyahebwa and Anthony Karanzi from Kigyeyo ward said they were excited to receive the allowance because they have been using their resources to do government work.
Priscilla Mukamagaba alias Nyakusinga, a VHT from Nyakabungo ward in Rubanda Town Council said they were grateful that Government had finally recognized their contribution in the fight against COVID-19. Nyakusinga said she was appointed as a VHT in 2012, and since then she had been working as a volunteer without any regular pay from government.
While addressing the VHTS, District Chairman Stephen Kasyaba expressed gratitude to Government for empowering the VHS. He asked planning authorities at the National level to continue mobilizing resources to improve the allowances for VHTs since they are the first persons of contact in regard to village health affairs.
The RDC Rubanda District Peter Rwakifari Kibondo, asked the VHTs to monitor COVID-19 patients under Home Based Care and always alert the authorities incase the patients break the isolation rules. He also asked the VHTs to monitor the condition of patients and alert health officials in time if there’s any emergency.
Meanwhile, Bubare Town Council LC.5 Councilor who is also the Rubanda District secretary for Health and Education, Obed Mutatina Kitabutuka asked the VHTs to increase sensitization against the spread of COVID-19. He noted that the number of new cases has been shooting high since the lifting of the lockdown.
According to statistics, Rubanda District had 123 COVID-19 active cases by 19th August 2021. 120 cases were registered after the partial lifting of the lockdown by President Museveni on 30th July 2021. The active cases are mostly from Rubanda Town Council, Burundi and Muko Subcounty, according to Mr. Kitabutuka.
