Health
One Year later; President Museveni applauded for successfully leading Ugandans through COVID-19 Pandemic
President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic has been applauded for helping beat the killer disease.
During the weekly press conference on Sunday afternoon, Hon. Judith Nabakooba the Minister for ICT and National Guidance said that one of the greatest lessons in the COVID-19 battle has been the importance of leadership.
On such a day in 2020, President Museveni ordered full lockdown, officially locking down the country. Airport, land and water transport were also locked down and only essential workers were allowed to leave their homes.
Nabakooba says that Uganda has successfully demonstrated that in pandemics of this nature, leadership at all levels is the key to winning.
“Last year around this time, His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had already initiated a number of actions. He had chaired a cabinet meeting to agree on key actions needed, he had met with Religious leaders to build momentum and acceptance towards key actions, he gave his first National Address on COVID-19 shortly after meeting with the Religious leaders and presided over the first COVID-19 National Prayers at State House still on 21stMarch last year” the Minister said.
She noted that all these actions were instrumental to building the success that the country has registered against COVID-19.
Adding that the Presidential Addresses became a regular part of this effort and provided hope and restored people’s confidence during the difficult days of the lockdown.
“They also provided a lot of information on how to prevent COVID-19. We must not forget that this has been a joint effort by everyone. The National COVID-19 Task Force, Ministry of Health, our scientists all key agencies and individuals. Because of everyone’s efforts and leadership, so many lives have been saved.
She called upon everyone not to give up on the preventive lessons learnt, explaining that the number of people catching the virus everyday has reduced from more than 300 to just under 20.
“The number of sick people admitted in hospitals has come down from about 400 to just about 28. This is shows we can win the COVID-19 battle if we all stick to the guidance given. I also want to remind all Ugandans to embrace the vaccine that is now available” Hon. Nabakooba said.
According to the Minister, the Health Ministry and all other experts have assured the country that the vaccine is safe and that it has so far been distributed in 11 African countries, while in Europe, millions of people have used it.
Uganda has so far acquired 964,000 doses and so far, all districts have received their batches and according to government, more vaccines are coming and every Ugandan will be able vaccinated overtime.
For now, Ministry of Health has designated health workers, security, teachers and elders 70 years above.
