By Jumah Kakomo
Kampala City Traders association (KACITA) have asserted that there is no need for lockdown in Kampala as it was previously recommended by the president of Uganda Medical Association (UMA) Samuel Oledo.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, KACITA acting chairman Thadeus Musoke Nagenda noted that KACITA will liaise with other government agencies concerned to ensure that all the standard operating procedure (SOPs) are adhered to and maximum vigilance and reporting any suspected patient to the nearest health facility.
He says KACITA will launch a task team for Ebola massive sensitization and awareness to the business community of Kampala metropolitan areas and the country in general on 29th of Saturday this week at ST Balikuddembe Market alias Owino Market in cooperation with government with the aim of preventing the spread of Ebola. Adding that whoever doesn’t observe the SOPs, his or her business will instantly be closed.
“Ebola is a real disease and kills, but we can manage it while observing SOPs and other measures recommended by the ministry of health, there is no need for a lock down,” Musoke said.
Musoke has urged the general public to avoid visiting traditional healers in case they get sick and have signs and symptoms like Headache, Diarrhea, Fever, Sore throat, Vomiting among others.
“I recommend my fellow Ugandans to always visit health centers for medical attention whenever they get Ebola signs and symptoms and nowhere else” he added.
KACITA spokesperson Issa Ssekitto appealed to the general public to currently halt eating wild meat, keep hygiene, and avoid self-medication because Ebola is a rare and a deadly disease in people and non-human primates.
The Ebola outbreak began in September confirmed on 20th and involves the less common Sudan Ebola strain, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines. Health officials aired worries early after the outbreak, noting that the lives virus may have been circulating for as long as 3 weeks before the first suspected cases were reported.
This is the 36th day since the outbreak of Ebola at Mubande district and as of yesterday according to ministry of health, 109 cases have confirmed among which 30 have died, 34 recovered, 45 under treatment.
