Of late, Uganda has been applauded by different stakeholders for taking pivotal measures against the Corona disease pandemic even before it recorded the first case of the virus. This in turn saw low numbers of Covid-19 cases with none from community infections but rather imported infections as of today.
Following the first cases reported last December in the Chinese Wuhan province experts cautioned on a great possibility of the situation turning into a pandemic given the way it was spreading from individual to individual. Regardless, the speed and magnitude by which it spread all over the world took many countries by surprise.
Some of the decisive measures that saw Uganda streamline the disease’s spread included shutting down all local and international flights, all public and private transport systems not forgetting the countrywide stay home lockdown coupled with a later curfew in the evenings. To a dark part, many countries have been obligated to fight the pandemic single-handedly for the concerns for citizens.
Having affected most of Uganda’s public and private sectors, the country has a lot to learn from the pandemic as it goes forth to take a stride into the future. These greatly revolves to the knowledge and conscience amassed as a result of the Covid-19 effects.
Speaking about the matter, Dr Peter Waiswa, an Associate Professor of Health Policy Planning and Management of the School of Public Health at Makerere University says COVID-19 should be a wakeup call for Uganda.
“Uganda needs to address high levels of Out-of-Pocket expenditure to protect households from catastrophic spending by broadening pre-payment mechanisms such as Social Health Insurance. The country needs to explore alternative ways of mobilizing domestic resources to improve financial sustainability including the improvement of efficiency in resource use. There is, also, need for proper prioritization of interventions and continue the steady-shift of more financing towards preventive health care services rather than the curative care,” he explained.
He adds that the government will also need to increase investment in the health sector if we are to increase access to health care and improve the quality of services.
With regard to Waiswa, the government will need to put up suitable policies that build appropriate public-private partnerships to increase access to affordable health services for the entire population. This could in turn see a better prepared Uganda in case of any other related situation.
Waiswa says, for long, the country has failed to understand that investing in human capital is the core of any society. Explaining that even the World Bank, considered human development capital and the potential productivity of the population as what drives the economy.
“Everyone should be empowered to be healthy, make primary health care a routine activity in the community, and also empower everyone to be responsible for themselves. It is a shame for us to be forcing people to wash hands yet this should be what people do in their everyday lives,” Waiswa said.
He added issues of public health should be enforced in the school curriculums such that right from nursery to secondary, it is mandatory to wash hands. Even in public places such as markets, supermarkets, hospitals, schools among others need to have hand washing places.
He also suggests that after COVID-19, the government should build community resilience which is centred around the people and resources in the community. “Village Health Teams (VHTs), women groups, church groups, health facilities, among others should be empowered to respond to simple tasks such as teaching others on hygiene, primary health care among others,” he said.
“There should be an advisory committee of scientists, not doctors alone because, at the moment, we need more scientists to look for solutions, not doctors who are just going to treat. What if the pandemic continues, what will happen?” he asked.
Cecilia Ogwal, Woman MP for Dokolo District, says the fact that the whole world had been locked and everyone is for themselves, the government should think of putting in place measures that can help the country survive on its own.
According to Ogwal, Uganda needs to build her own capacity to be able to handle certain crises instead of thinking that without our colonial masters then we cannot exist.
“We need to think of starting to produce our materials using our locally available materials. Imagine if we were using our cotton to produce protective gears such as masks, overcoats among others, then we would not be straining ourselves with importation,” Ogwal said.
She added that we should also create jobs to absorb the youths who are always swarming outside countries for jobs. Thousands are trapped in foreign countries and they cannot return until things are normal.
COVID has also helped the country to realise how much we had ignored the health sector to the extent that people have to travel to foreign countries to get specialised medication.
“This is the time we should invest and equip all our facilities here such that even the presidents and other VIPs are treated in the country. Imagine if one of them got a complication that needs specialised attention what would happen,” she said.
She suggested at least every referral hospital across the country should be equipped with ICU and supplied with Oxygen, to avoid congesting a few hospitals. The citizens too are expected to watch over their spending and saving patterns. A separate saving personal fund could guarantee security in situations of scarcity.
After COVID-19, the government should embark on encouraging people to have storage facilities other than selling everything as it is harvested. This could also guarantee availability of food supplies during scarcity.
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