By Naboth Isaac Niwagaba.
apearlnews.com
The Kabale District LC.5 Chairperson Nelson Nshangabasjheija has cautioned Village Health Teams against being compromised after receiving Government allowances.
The funds are aimed at motivating them and appreciate their participation in the fight against COVID-19.
While speaking at the ceremony to launch the VHT fund at Kyanamira Subcounty Headquarters, Nshanagabasheija said his office had been informed that some VHTS were hesitating to report COVID-19 suspected cases in the community out of fear or compromise. He said concealing positive cases was one of the major causes of the increasing spread of the virus.
Mr. Nshangabasheija revealed that Kabale District received UGX 418 million from Government through the Ministry of Health to facilitate the management of COVID-19.
He explained that a total of 261.6m would be disbursed to the villages where VHTS allowances amounted to 196.2m and 64.5m was allocation for the Village Task Forces. This implies that each village would receive UGX 300,00 for the VHTs and 100,000 for the Village Task Force.
Kyanamira Subcounty was reportedly chosen for the VHT Fund launching because it has registered the largest number of COVID-19 cases in Kabale District since March last year.
The Secretary for Finance Kabale District who is also the Kyanamira Subcounty Female LC.5 Councilor Bridget Asinga also cautioned the VHTs against failure to report violation of standard operating procedures, especially during burial ceremonies where the number of mourners should not exceed 20 people in line with the presidential directives on COVID-19 prevention.
Kabale District assistant Health Officer Paddy Mwesigye revealed that the role of the VHTS was majorly coordination of COVID-19 response at village level through, Sensitization and monitoring of COVID-19 patients under Home-Based Care.
Meanwhile, the first beneficiaries who included Joventa Tumusiime, Jackline Asiimwe, and Silvano Tibyitu commended Government for giving them allowances in appreciation of their efforts towards the fight against COVID-19.
Cumulatively, Kabale District has registered over 2000 COVID-19 cases and over 80 have succumbed to the pandemic since June last year.
