COVID-19 full recovery: Uganda discharges 3 patients out of the 30 patients who were receiving treatment at Entebbe Grade B hospital
Uganda on Saturday 11 April 2020 discharged three COVID-19 patients after attaining full recovery from the disease. The three cases have been receiving treatment at Entebbe Grade B hospital.
In Uganda, no death has been reported. Cases stand at 53 and so far 3 have been discharged, and according to the Ministry, the remaining patients are in stable condition none is in critical condition or intensive care unit.
Majority of the confirmed COVID-19 cases were imported by people who had travelled to high-risk countries and mostly Dubai returnees.
Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said that the 3 patients discharged were among the 30 COVID-19 patients who were receiving treatment at Entebbe Grade B hospital who have spent 21 days in the hospital.
“COVID-19 patients stay a long time. The 3 patients we are discharging spent 21 days; it takes time for the viral load to go down. That’s why we are working hard to see we don’t have an epidemic blowing out of proportion,” Aceng said.
Aceng said the 3 discharged patients asked that their identities remain private that’s why they never appeared at the official discharge ceremony. And according to the Minister, their rights deserve respect.
Aceng adds that 15 other patients have also recovered from coronavirus disease waiting for discharge on Monday 13 April 2020. She said their discharge was pushed to Monday because they needed to prepare their communities.
Also, she said all health workers who have been handling COVID-19 patients none have contracted the virus.
Speaking at the function, Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda head National Task Force on COVID-19 said the discharge ceremony of 3 patients is “an extremely pleasant function amidst a difficult war”.
Rugunda thanked the health team for the great care rendered towards the patients throughout the 21 days and the Director of Entebbe Referral Hospital for creating a favourable environment for the patient’s treatment and recovery.
“It’s a team (health care workers) the country is very proud of.”
He further commended the good relationship portrayed between the Ministry of Health, the health facilities at the frontline and the strategic leadership of President Museveni in this fight.
After, Rugunda appealed to communities against stigmatizing the recovered COVID-19 patients but rather welcome them warmly because they have fully recovered and they need community’s support.
“Discharge of these patients needs to be handled carefully. They need their privacy, I appeal to the communities to warmly welcome these friends who have been discharged and reintegrate them in their communities,” Rugunda said.
“You have been assured that they are properly treated and given requisite tests after treatment and declared healed. So you have no reason not to reintegrate them to allow them to resume their normal life,” he added.
Rugunda then appealed to Residence District Commissioners (RDC’s). Mayor’s and Local Council heads to make sure that their communities digest the reintegration process.
Director-General of Health Services, Dr Henry Mwebesa in his remarks said the process of discharging COVID-19 patient is quite long.
It begins with admission and the patient kept in the hospital for 24 days. He/she then takes 2 samples 24 hours apart. The 3 discharged cases each had negative tests at 24 hours intervals.
“They are going home with negative tests,” Mwebesa said.
Mwebesa says after confirming that the patients are negative, health care workers prepare them to return home.
However, before they return to their communities, health authorities go to their communities first to prepare the residents. “So that there’s no stigma and they are not harassed.”
“We take them (discharged patients) through psychological counselling and advise them on what to do. All the clothes they came with a stay here and we give them new clothes.”
During discharge they have presented certificates, result slip and information on Dos and Don’ts, then also the heath team makes a 14-day follow-up on the discharged patient while at home and continue giving psych-social support.
The discharge event was attended by officials from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), health workers and government.
Entebbe Grade B Hospital has been managing 31 COVID-19 Patients and now with the discharge of 3 patients 28 remains, Mulago Specialized Women’s Hospital is handling 20 cases, Adjumani Hospital 1 case and Hoima Hospital 1 case.
3,862 samples have so far been tested for COVID-19 in Uganda and only 53 are positive with now 3 recoveries. 538 cases were under institutional quarantine while 571 were contacts of the confirmed cases that are under follow up by the health team.
