By Naboth Isaac Niwagaba.
apearlnews.com
The Kabale District Chairperson Nelson Nshangabasheija has sked the District Health Office to work on the release of money for the Village Health Teams – VHTs so that they can be enabled to carry out their designated activities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nshangabasheija made the call during the Kabale District COVID-19 task force meeting that was held today, to discuss the increase in the number of cases registered in the District since President Museveni partially lifted the lockdown on 30th July 2021.
According to the data from the department of health, Kabale District had started registering a decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases, but the number increased from 4 to 14 cases registered every day after lifting of the lockdown.
Mr. Nshangabasheija attributed the challenge to laxity in adherence to the COVID-19 prevention guidelines and the reduced sensitization programes especially in the rural areas, where he said life has returned to normal and people nolonger follow any standard operating proceedures.
He asked the District auhtorities to empower the Villatg Health Teams and the Village Task Forces on COVID-19 by releasing their allowances, so that they can begin intensified sensitization about the pandemic at the village level.
Mr. Nshangabasheija revealed that money for the VHTs was part of the UgX 418 million received earlier this month by Kabale District from the central Government, to facilitate control and management of COVID-19.
The Resident District Commissioner Kabale District Darius Nandinda tasked the District Health Officer to explain why there was delayal in releasing money for the VHTs and in response the D.H.O Alfred Besigensi said there was a series of accountability proceedures involved. However, they agreed that the fund would be launched next week on Monday.
Meanwhile, Besigensi explained that the role of the VHTs was mainly sensitization and monitoring of COVID-19 patients under Home Based care, while the Village Task Forces are in charge of coordinating COVID-19 interventions, and enforcing guidelines on prevention of the pandemic.
According to Besigensi, Kabale District currently has 79 COVID-19 active cases with 46 of them under Home Based Care. 33 are admitted at kabale Regional Referral Hospital and three patients have died in the last three days.
Cumulatively, Kabale District has registered over 2000 COVID-19 cases and 79 have succumbed to the pandemic.
