Leaders at the Ministry of Health and the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) have urged health workers to increase vigilance to reduce Ebola infections among medical personnel.
Information from UMA and the Ministry indicates that slightly more than 100 health workers have been placed under quarantine, while a few have tested positive after being identified as contacts of previous Ebola patients.
Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, made the remarks while speaking during the graduation of sonographers at the Ministry headquarters on Friday evening. He urged health workers to adhere to established infection prevention measures to protect themselves.
‘Some of the people whom we have quarantined because of the current outbreak are people who did ultrasound scans on patients,’ he told the sonographers.
‘Infection prevention doesn’t only apply to the rest of the staff. Even you who are doing ultrasound scans, we emphasise infection prevention so that you protect yourself and protect your patients. When you protect yourself, you protect your family and your community,’ he added.
Dr Olaro asked the sonographers to sanitise regularly and ensure that linen used on examination beds is changed frequently to prevent the spread of infections.
He said the graduating sonographers had conducted more than 10,000 free ultrasound scans between January and May. He also appealed to district health officials to provide them with the necessary tools to carry out their work effectively.
The sonographers were largely midwives who underwent a one-year training programme supported by Enabel, the Belgian agency for international cooperation, in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
Enabel said it is supporting 20 health facilities where it has supplied ultrasound machines and trained health workers to help bridge gaps in access to care.
Mr Nicolas Oebel, Enabel’s Country Director, said sonographer training forms part of broader efforts to improve the quality of healthcare services.
‘A diagnosis may require referral the same day. Districts that nominated candidates must retain them. Many mothers also come for scans because of community outreach programmes,’ he said.
‘Today’s milestone therefore does not stand alone. It is part of a system being strengthened on multiple fronts, which is the only way to achieve lasting improvements in maternal and newborn health,’ he added.
A total of 10 sonographers from the Busoga and Rwenzori sub-regions graduated with diplomas after completing training at Ernest Cook University (ECU) in Mengo through the ECUREI Imaging Diagnostic Centre.