Legislators on Western Uganda COVID-19 Task Force launch Rodney Fund, to buy drugs for medical workers in Kabale

Legislators on the Western Region Parliamentary Task Force on COVID-19 have launched a Support Financial campaign titled “Rodney Fund” to help facilitate purchase of drugs for Health workers who contract COVID-19 while on duty in Kabale District.

The fund is named after “Rodney Tabaruka,” the senior pharmacist in charge of the drug store at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital -KRRH.

Kabale Municipality MP Dr. Nicholas Thaddeus Kamara says that while touring Kigezi in mid-July this year, the Western Region Parliamentary Task Force on COVID-19  found out that Health workers were  struggling to raise funds for their own medication after contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Led by Hoima City Legislator Joseph Ruyonga, the MPs decided to start up the Rodney Fund specifically to act as back up for the purchase of medicine  to support  COVID-19 infected health workers at KRRH. 

Dr. Kamara says the initiative is meant to supplement government’s efforts and to also awaken responsible planning authorities in charge of the health sector.  

According to Dr. Christopher Wagobera the officer in-charge of the COVID-19 Treatment Centre, so far, over 65 health workers have contracted COVID-19 in Kabale. No one has died, but they have had challenges meeting costs for their own treatment, especially when it comes to buying medicines.