By Wetondo Denis Julius
MBALE
Bulambuli district local government has today officially started distributing long-awaited government face masks as a way of curbing down the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While speaking to our reporter during the launch at the district head offices, Gidale Wogalya, the Bulambuli District Health Officer says that covid19 cases have started rising slowly.
He attributes the rise to relaxation of enforcement of Government guidelines by police such as curfew time, closure of bars, public gatherings etc.
He also says they have received a total of 186,000 face masks from the Ministry of health which they are going to give all residents per household in the entire district using Village health teams VHTs, LCIs, and parish chiefs.
Wogalya adds that they have trained all VHTs to handle simple mild cases of Covid-19 with small or no symptoms at village level. He said such cases are to be quarantined at home, taught on appropriate diet and should not be allowed to mix with others.
He said mil cases should be treated at home instead of taking all of them to Muyembe health center IV, the district quarantine centre to avoid congestion since they have few facilities.
However, Samuel Nadaya, one of the VHTs urged government to this time consider giving them their allowances in the time since they are doing voluntary work and risking their lives.
Meanwhile Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Region Police Spokesperson dismissed allegations that police has suspended enforcing Covid-19 guidelines and rules.
He however agreed that some district police commanders have relaxed in deployments over unknown reasons but warned that such DPC’s will face the law.
Bulambuli has registered 32 covid19 cases with one death.
