Via The Independent: Naguru Ebola treatment unit poorly equipped- Medics. Excerpt:
Kampala, Uganda: The Ebola Treatment Unit-ETU at Naguru General Hospital is under equipped, URN has learnt.
According to doctors, the unit lacks equipment and facilities needed to offer quality care to Ebola patients. Apparently, if an Ebola case was rushed to the Ebola Treatment Unit at Naguru General Hospital, health workers would find it hard to measure the blood pressure of patients, carry out continuous tests and provide them oxygen in case they can’t breathe on their own.
Our reporter visited the unit on Friday last week and found it deserted. There was no activity in the facility, which is fenced with chain link. The doors were under lock and key. The unit comprises of three wards. Each ward is a standalone building measuring approximately 10 meters squared.
At the triage or reception ward, an empty white 10 liter jerrycan that is supposed to contain 0.5 chlorine solution for hand washing sits on a metallic stand in a corner of the small room gathering dust.
A one liter bottle of Saraya alcohol-based hand sanitizer also mounted on a wall gathers dust.
Dr. Mukanga Kizito, the head of the Naguru Hospital Isolation Unit and Ebola Treatment, says they are supposed to be on standby mode, ready to handle any Ebola case that makes its way to Kampala.
“But as we stand now, we lack a lot of equipment to say that we are ready 100 percent,” he said.
Dr. Kizito says the first challenges they face is the space in the ETU. He explains that the ETU was initially built to offer care for health workers affected by Ebola. He says the ETU is small and wouldn’t be able to handle a big Ebola outbreak.
Dr. Kizito says due to the limited space, so many World Health Organisation recommendations are not being adhered to, saying they are forced to work with what they have.
“The space that we do not have is not enough. Ideally a bed is supposed to be two meters away from the next bed. Ideally each ward at their current size is supposed to have only two beds instead of the four there. As it is, a health worker would not be comfortable,” said Dr. Kizito.
Dr. Kizito says the facility lacks key monitoring and investigative equipment at the ETU.
Dr. Kizito explains that even if Naguru hospital has a laboratory, using the current laboratory could spread the disease to other parts of the country.
