KIU, Western Campus – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has congratulated health workers for their exceptional effort, which has helped the country realize meaningful gains in the fight against COVID-19. This was during his address to the nation on 19th April.

“I want to thank and congratulate our health workers,” the President said.

“They have done a wonderful job. They were not well prepared, but with the little they got, they managed to treat 55 Coronavirus-infected patients,” he added.

Many health workers, including KIU Teaching Hospital staff, are putting their lives at risk by offering to help treat COVID-19 patients, a sacrifice that makes the difference between life and death for these patients. KIU Teaching Hospital has a COVID-19 taskforce manning its COVID-19 emergency centre.

KIU Teaching Hospital Executive Director Prof Robinson Ssebuufu appreciated the President’s gesture but said it was long overdue.

“Considering the period taken studying the course (Medicine) and our duties plus the risk involved, it is long overdue,” Prof Ssebuufu said.

Sr Elizabeth Kamahoro also thanked the President for the gesture but called on government to emphasize nurses as well, since they are also on the frontline of this fight.

“When the President talks about health workers, people think it’s only doctors. But nurses play a big role in healthcare and deserve more recognition,” she said.