Ugandans on social media have scoffed at the Ministry of Health for literally attacking a covid-19 patient who exposed the sorry state of Masaka Referral Hospital’s Isolation centre and how they (patients) are poorly treated.
Since Sunday morning, a video of asymptomatic Covid-19 patient identified as Aliona Mary has been making rounds on social media where she claims that the structure has no electricity, water and that patients are given little portions of food adding that patients are not regularly checked on by medical workers.
“The conditions in this hospital are really horrible. We rarely see doctors, doctors just come in to just drop a medication that has no name for us to use,” she says adding they are put in a section that had been abandoned many years ago.
In response, the Ministry of Health was quick to discredit the allegations saying that they were just gross exaggerations by the patient.
“Our attention has been drawn to a video by an asymptomatic COVID-19 female patient at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital that is currently making rounds on social media. The patient who recorded the video arrived at the Hospital about two days ago after she tested and was found positive for COVID-19 at Mutukula border point trying to cross to Tanzania. Preliminary epidemiological reports indicate that the patient was trying to travel to South Korea through Tanzania. Unfortunately, this did not happen after her sample was confirmed for COVID-19.” read the statement in part.
It added that with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital set aside a 20-bed capacity ward for treating COVID-19 patients and the decision to improvise a temporary structure to care for female patients was due to increasing number of male patients.
“With an increase in the number of males diagnosed with COVID-19, the hospital took the decision and improvised a temporary structure to care for female patients as a measure to avert potential challenges that may occur when the males mix with females. The patients will be transferred to a well-known refurnished main ward as soon as renovation works are completed.”
“The structure captured in the patient’s video was used as an emergency measure as the hospital expands its bed capacity to over 50 to accommodate more patients,” the statement read.
The Ministry also stated that patients are given sufficient meals and that the facility has functional electrical and water system contrary to what the patient alleged.
Further, contrary to allegations in the video, the Ministry says medical workers check on patients regularly, and on time to time, the medical staff guide patients on their prescribed medications.
However, a section of Ugandans on social media have not been moved by the Ministry’s clarification saying that instead of defending themselves in media, they should focus on improving the welfare of patients as well as renovate the facility which is in a sorry state.
See Facebook comments;
Jami Owa Bobi Just accept she has exposed u bse it was direct on video every dirtiness ov the hospital was live gasiya we are tried ov u government
Brenda Nakirya Improve the conditions,periodt. Regardless
Namakula Betty Personally I have been to Masaka hosp, my question to MOH is that do u guys visit the hospital or u just want to argue. OK try and visit the maternity ward, check the toilets, oh my God. I pray I don’t go back to that hospital.
Rukundo Jimmy We distance ourselves from this false defense
Kato Hannington Nonsense just. Whatever u ve written has nothing to do wit Wat the lady highlighted. She showed us the toilets, kids in the ward, unprescribed medicines wrapped unprofessionally but your here telling us South Korea.
Kenneth Mauso Talk about the toilets as well.shame on u
Andrea Andy Ministry Of health instead of defending your mess just work on the issues raised
Paul Oyara I could be poor in understanding English. This press release is actually an admission of the patient’s complaints.
Ssuuna Abdul There is no need of you responding with all this trash,accept the bitter truth you are disturbing and mistreating people in the name of Covid!!! Eat ur money but leave people to wrk and feed their families.Period!!!
Aruho O Ramos But why didnt your prepare enough during lockdown?????
I wonder whether these ministries have intellectuals on committees.Its now 6months and shamelessly talk about renovations???????
Abdul Muhammad Kassim I wonder why we as the government play down some facts. The patient has expressed there dissatisfaction and indeed they are thinks that needs attention. Why didn’t we rent an apartment for these patients? What does it take to get room self contained at 25-30 per day and finish garnishment of the MOH rooms. Where have the 💰 moneys suddenly disappeared !!!? Who disposes/litters garbage around the hospital.
Didnt MOH budget for waste management. Sorry for you MOH. @ministry of health.
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