Ebola: Health centre suspends admissions
Construction of an isolation centre for Ebola cases at Nyimbwa Health Centre IV. PHOTO BY dan wandera.
What you need to know:
Authorities in Luweero District say the move follows an overwhelming rise in suspected cases.
Luweero
Nyimbwa Health Centre IV in Luweero District has stopped admitting patients due to inadequate space at the facility, which is preparing to receive confirmed and suspected Ebola virus cases.
According to Dr Innocent Nkonwa, the in-charge of the facility, the patients will, however, continue receiving treatment.
“We have not stopped treatment. The maternity wing is under renovation and those supposed to be admitted are being referred to our neighbouring facilities of Bombo Health Centre III and other units around the area,” Dr Nkonwa said, noting that they, however, have few people turning up due to the Ebola scare.
Meanwhile, the district Ebola task force and surveillance teams are reportedly overwhelmed by emergency calls from different health units to attend to patients with symptoms similar to that of the deadly hemorrhagic fever.
“Some of the cases are not really related to Ebola but there is panic and fear among health workers and the public. We are trying to respond to all these calls to ensure that the outbreak is handled and so we call upon the people to be calm but vigilant,” Dr Joseph Okware, the district health officer, said.
The number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to six according to the latest results from the Uganda Virus Research Institute, while blood samples of 12 suspected cases have also been taken for testing.
