Mbale Hospital Medical Interns Strike Over Absence Of Coronavirus Preventive Gears
Medical interns at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital have laid down their tools because what they call negligence of management for their lives. The interns are demanding for protective gears like masks, sanitizers and overalls among other things, which they say are essential in handling suspected corona virus cases.
According to the interns, the hospital management hasn’t taken any initiative to provide them with the necessary gears yet they are at the frontline of interfacing with patients, which exposes them to the corona virus infection. Dr. Romeo Aupale Okidi, the Vice President Uganda Federation of Medical Interns says medical interns are working under very deplorable conditions that endanger their lives.
He says they resolved to have a sit down strike starting Monday until the hospital provides them with the necessary equipment that can protect them from contracting the disease.
According to him, emergency wards like the causality, Outpatient Department and medical emergency ward are not suitable for their work yet they are very crowded, which makes it hard to handle any case of emergency like the COVID19 case.
A source revealed on condition of anonymity that since the interns stopped working on Monday morning, management closed the gates to reduce on the numbers.
“They had to lock the gates. That is how people reduced otherwise we were not managing, we now have to work tirelessly since the students are not here,” he noted. The source also revealed that the medics at the hospital have not been trained on how to handle corona virus cases.
Dr. Emmanuel Tugaineyo, the Director Mbale Regional Referral Hospital confirmed the medical intern’s strike, saying they are right to sit down because they are also scared for their lives.
He says the hospital has started decongesting wards in preparation of any corona virus case.
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