MBARARA: HEALTH WORKERS DISAGREE WITH GOV’T OVER IMPOSING 30% TAX ON COVID 19 RISK ALLOWANCES 

 By Aggrey Twesingye

www.mknewslink.com

In Mbarara—-

Health workers at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital have wholesomely agreed that government should stop immediately imposing 30 percent on their covid 19 Risk allowances.

This was sounded yesterday by Dr. Rose Muhindo the head of Covid 19 treatment unit at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital as members of parliament on health committee were on the fact finding mission at the facility.

Muhindo told members of parliament that it’s nonsensical for Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to impose 30 percent on the money that is meant for the risk they take in treating covid 19 patients.

Mwijukye Francis a member of the committee appreciated the medical team at the facility for handling well the covid 19 situation and supported them with Shs500,000 to run the activities.

“Mbarara regional referral hospital should even be elevated to a national referral hospital because of the increasing number of patients the facility handles.” Mwijukye noted.

Dan Kimosho the vice chairman of the committee who contributed Shs500,000 to the hospital, and appreciated the efforts the health workers are injecting. He also appreciated Dr. Celestine for being transparent to the hospital.

The nine members sitting on the National covid 19 committee has so far found out that none of the hospitals in Western Uganda is having two covid 19 isolation units when the government released Shs46 billion to cater for such.

Speaking to mknewslink.com reporter, Dr. Celestine Barigye the director Mbarara regional referral hospital noted that so far the hospital has cumulatively handled 1,114 confirmed cases of whom 505 have been admitted, and 309 have recovered and have been discharged successfully. He however said 635 patients have been managed under home based care, and unfortunately the hospital has lost 146 people since the pandemic broke out in the country.

He however cited the challenges faced by the hospital including inadequate funds to complete the new state of the art isolation unit since the funds from the hospital partners have now depleted, noting that the permanent unit needs can’t be completed and equipped within short time.