Gulu Hospital Today Discharged 34 Patients, Bringing the Total to 161 Patients who Recovered from COVID -19 in Uganda.

Some of the recovered patients at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital hours before they were discharged.

Gulu Regional Referral Hospital on Thursday afternoon discharged a total of 34 patients who recovered from COVID -19.

26 of those discharged are Ugandan truck drivers while eight are foreign truck drivers. All were admitted to the hospital for treatment after they tested positive for the virus from Elegu border point in Amuru district.

Dr. Paska Apiyo, a Physician and the Head of Case Management at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital revealed that they would have discharged 55 patients today who recovered but that the test results of the other 21 delayed at Uganda Virus Research Institute, prompting them to discharge only 34.

“Another 21 patients, if their results were out, would have been released together with these ones. Probably tomorrow or the next day, we will again discharge a good number of them.” said Dr. Apiyo

According to Apiyo, the success that the hospital is registering in treating COVID -19 patients is attributed to self-motivated medical staffs who have dedicated their lives to serving humanity despite the challenges they face.

Dr. James Elima, the Hospital Director revealed that out of the 26 Ugandan truck drivers who recovered, eight are residents of Wakiso, three from Kayunga, two from Soroti, two from Masaka and one each from the districts of Bukedia, Kyotera, Adjumani, Kitgum, Kanungu, Amuru, Iganga, Mukono, Jinja, Kamuli, and Hoima.

Elima adds that the surveillance team from the hospital is working closely with the different District COVID -19 Taskforces in the region in contact tracing and admitting of positive cases.

“This is thanks to the work of the surveillance team in Gulu district and the entire region. Also, we built a special working relationship with the taskforce in Gulu district and the entire Acholi sub-region under the leadership of Gulu RDC,” Dr. Elima Revealed

Maj Santos Okot Lapolo, Gulu Resident District Commissioner who doubles as the Chairman of Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce appealed to the general public to stop stigmatizing those who recovered from the virus, saying stigmatization is one of the barriers in the fights against COVID -19.

He also asked those discharged to go back home and continue sensitizing their community members to observe all the precautionary measures to stem the spread of the virus.

Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the State Minister for Primary Health Care who was the guest of honor during the ceremony to discharge the recovered patients revealed that this is the highest number of recoveries Uganda has had, thanks to the health workers.

“Today, Uganda has registered the highest number of recoveries ever since the outbreak of Coronavirus,” said Dr. Kaducu.

“None of you was sent to go and train to become a professor of Coronavirus, but you managed because you are competent and because you have the capability and potential,” She added.

The total nimber of recoveries from Gulu Regional Referral Hospital stands at 43 ever since the first patient was admitted to the facility on 1st May.

Uganda has so far registered a total of 161 recoveries and no covid-19 related deaths.

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