Members on the Kyotera District COVID-19 task force are confused on what to do with ten confirmed cases of coronavirus disease due to lack of transport to Masaka Hospital.
According to Dr Edward Muwanga, the Kyotera District Health Officer and Secretary to the task force, the patients have been in isolation since last week, Monday, when they tested positive during the community mass surveillance testing exercise in Nangoma Sub-county.
Dr Muwanga argues that they do not have funds to buy fuel to transport the patients to Masaka, and that the island sub-county lacks a treatment centre.
Patients are now complaining of neglect and have been demanding to be taken for treatment or else they leave the temporary isolation area which is very dangerous to the entire community. They have now given the authorities a three-days ultimatum to transfer them to Masaka for treatment or they leave.
The pressure from the patients has triggered panic among health workers and residents.
Head of the Mass Surveillance program in Nangoma and Kasensero Dr Ronald Reagan Mutebi, says some of the COVID-19 patients are on Anti-retroviral Drugs and need special attention and they have appealed to the task force to find a solution before the situation runs out of hand.
It will be difficult to trace their contacts and patients if they escape from the temporary area. Mutebi has appealed to the Health Ministry to set up special isolation and treatment centres in Nangoma and Kasensero, which are considered hard to reach areas.
Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary Health Ministry says Kasensero and Nangoma are high-risk areas because of easy access by Tanzanian nationals.
According to Maj. David Matovu the Kyotera Resident District Commissioner, there is need for calm as the task force finds means to transfer the patients.