UPDF Medics Trained on Coronavirus Prevention and Management

By Kampala Post Reporter

The Ministry of Health has started training UPDF at the Mbuya Senior Officers Diagnostic Centre on the prevention and management of the deadly Coronavirus (CODIV 19).

UPDF Chief of Medical Services, Maj Gen Ambrose Musinguzi, who represented the Chief of Defence Forces [CDF] lauded the ministry of health for being timely in equipping the UPDF medical personnel on the prevention of Coronavirus, which has now become a global threat.

Globally, more than 4,000 people have died from the coronavirus and in excess of 113,000 cases have been confirmed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Gen Musinguzi said that as the UPDF they are mandated to respond to any emergencies like they have been doing over the years. He noted that such training only helps them to respond better to the outbreak in case it hits the country.

"As UPDF, we are under obligation to respond to emergencies and help to protect the people we serve” he said, adding that there will be various trainings for soldiers on how to prevent the spread of coronavirus. He revealed that the other training will be held at Bombo Land Forces headquarters.“These trained teams will be the ones to further train and sensitize other soldiers from other units including those in Somalia,” he said.

Dr. Bondo Bongomin from the Ministry of Health said that the ministry is partnering with UPDF to deliver the message about Coronavirus which broke out in December 2019. “We thought it wise to equip you with the preventive skills against this global epidemic since UPDF is a very proactive institution when it comes to emergencies,” he said.

He added that after the training, trainees should be in position to know the signs and symptoms of coronavirus and be able to prevent the spread of the disease.

Dr. Salome Okware, another ministry of health official said the trainees should be in position to form teams and be ready to fight the epidemic after the training. She added that hygiene must be a priority in order to avoid the spread of the disease through washing hands thoroughly and quickly identifying the patients with the signs of the virus and isolating them.