By: Melanie Aanyu

The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has said government’s failure to compensate families of health workers who died in the line of duty during the Covid-19 response has affected the willingness of the carders to join the Ebola response team.

Dr Samuel Oledo, the UMA president, yesterday, Thursday september 22 , said that patients will continue to suffer because of the failure of the government to protect health workers.

Dr Oledo said health workers lack appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to handle Ebola cases since the outbreak was unexpected. The recommended PPE include a face shield, goggles, apron, gown and gumboots.

The death risk for a person who is infected with Ebola ranges from 25 percent to 90 percent, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is too high when compared to the Covid-19 fatality rate which is at around 3 percent.

The lack of approved treatment and vaccine for Sudan Ebola partly explains the high death risks.