By Damali Mukhaye
The surging new Covid-19 infections are putting pressure on the country’s health facilities.
A number of private hospitals are now full to capacity and some have resorted to sending away covid-19 patients especially those in critical condition because of limited space.
According to directors of various hospitals, it is very costly to manage huge numbers at their facilities because they have to hire extra nurses, doctors, and specialists to handle these patients.
The Acting Medical Director, Medipal International Hospital, Dr Richard Kikundwa, says they can accommodate only 50 Covid-19 patients at their facility and they have now run of beds.
The situation is not different at International Hospital Kampala, where their Head of Marketing and Communications, Peter Mulindwa says they have the capacity of only 25 beds for covid-19 patients which are all full.
Meanwhile, Siraj Mbulambago, the Kibuli Hospital Administrator says they are treating only patients with mild and moderate symptoms and can accommodate just 15 a day.
The Director of TMR International Hospital, Naalya, Dr Daniel Taremwa says they are only able to attend to 20 patients on a daily basis because of the additional costs involved.
Uganda yesterday registered 25 deaths, the highest ever recorded in a day, bringing the total number to 459.
The ministry of health data released yesterday shows that the total number of infections now stands at 64,521.