Four survivors, who have been undergoing treatment at the Ebola Treatment Unit – ETU in Mubende have been discharged.
They were discharged on Thursday amid jubilation by the health workers, district technical staff, and members of the Ebola Taskforce led by Mubende Resident District Commissioner – RDC, Rosemary Byabashaija.
The survivors were given household items including bedding as a start-up as they reunite with their families.
Byabashaija described the discharge as a breakthrough and commended the government and communities for the effort that has necessitated them to successfully treat 67 people.
She said a total of 42 people died of Ebola and warned the people to guard against the disease.
Byabashaija also asked the people to adhere to the health regulations set by the government and also to patiently wait for further guidance from authorities amid the lockdown as well as advice from the health experts.
She revealed that they have established a survivors’ clinic to take care of the survivors’ likely effects of the disease.
Dr Paskar Apiyo, a consultant physician, said that the patients were in a bad state and the situation was challenging but the successes achieved were a result of teamwork and cooperation among the medical workers.
One of the survivors, Sylvia Nantumire from Kikandwa Sub County in Kassanda District said that her recovery was God given because of the poor situation that she went through.
Meanwhile, traders in Mubende have appealed to government to review the lock down restrictions issued to curtail the spread of Ebola Virus Disease to enable them resume their businesses.
The angry traders say that they are worried that they may not resume work after the lifting of the lockdown because many are on the run over debts. They also appealed to government to intervene to restrain their landlords at the respective workplaces and district authorities from collecting rent arrears and tax to enable them settle.
Florence Namuddu, a female vendor selling roasted potatoes at Mubende Highway Market says that she has been hit by the lockdown because her only source of income has since been suspended.
She is uncertain about the next course of action saying that she lost her business capital ever since the lockdown was announced. She had just stocked and the only solution was to consume it. Her business is funded by loans but she has failed to service them and that her landlord is about to throw her out.
Namuddu says that due to the prolonged restrictions, most of them might find it difficult to return to business because many of them are now suffering from stress and are struggling to take care of their children who are currently on holidays. The mother of 2, says that the ongoing restrictions have greatly destructed their plans to survive.
Ismail Sekanjako, a trader in the market says that the lockdown has cost them a lot but the 21 days’ extension starting November 26 has made it worse.
He says the food relief that was distributed catered for the first 21 days but after the extension, everyone had to take care of themselves amid suffering and hardships.
To make matters worse, Sekanjako says that many of the market vendors and boda boda cyclists have been servicing loans before the lockdown but now they are at the verge of losing their property due to failure to pay.
The furiously looking Sekanjako says that some of the vendors are now suffering from stress and that after the lockdown, government should put in place centers to treat people suffering from trauma. He appeals that government should revisit its directive to allow them come back and restart their businesses because it is their source of income.
Buwekula County Member of Parliament, Pascal Mbabazi said that they are tired of the lockdown because it is not easy leading people who are needy during this lockdown. While commending the electorates for adhering to the regulations, Mbabazi said that the government should gradually revise the regulations.
He says that government should allow boda bodas to operate in hard to reach areas in Mubende like Butologo sub county where vehicles cannot access. The legislator also lamented over the abuse of peoples’ rights by security saying that there is need to review the regulations instead of providing relief food.
Rosemary Byabashaija, the Resident District Commissioner of Mubende called for patience among the people saying that they should wait for the authorities and health experts to advise on the next course of action. She also asked the people to continue adhering to the regulations saying that the disease is not gone ad that their safety is within their hands.
The outcries came hardly a week after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni extended the lockdown for another 21 days starting November 26th, 2022. In his Speech read for him by the Vice president, Museveni also observed progress achieved in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease in Mubende and Kassanda districts.