This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
Uganda has made significant strides in its fight against COVID-19, with a high recovery rate that has left many in awe. As of now, more than half of the people who have reported coronavirus or COVID-19 infection in the landlocked East African country have recovered.
According to the latest figures, out of 98 pandemic cases reported in the country so far, 55 people have been discharged from hospitals. This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering that Uganda is among a few countries that have not reported any death from the COVID-19.
Local authorities have attributed the low number of infections in the country to the fact that most of the cases have come from truck drivers from Tanzania, Kenya, and Burundi. The government has taken measures to contain the spread of the virus, including a third phase of lockdown.
One of the patients who have recovered from COVID-19 is Emmanuel Safali, a 64-year-old diabetic patient who was discharged from the hospital on April 16. Safali, who was confirmed positive after reporting a coarse throat, said it was a journey back to life.
"It was very painful, but I did not know that I had contacted COVID-19," Safali said in an interview with Anadolu Agency.
Doctors at the Mulago National Referral Hospital, where Safali was treated, have credited the country's treatment strategy with keeping infections in check. According to Dr. Baterana Byarugaba, the Executive Director of the hospital, the strategy involves maintaining patients on their normal medications, treating any underlying conditions, and increasing their immunity.
"Our success is due to our ability to maintain the patients on their normal drugs. What we have done is that, if patients are hypertensive, we treat hypertension. We treat diseases they may have been carrying like ulcers, diabetes, and all forms of diseases. And I think, that was part of our success," Dr. Byarugaba said.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has also attributed the country's success in containing the spread of COVID-19 to the treatment strategy. According to the President, medical professionals in the country are supporting patients with several measures to increase their immunity and attend to their other ailments to help them combat the virus.
Uganda has also used anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat patients, under strict monitoring. Dr. Fred Nakwagala, the senior consultant physician at the Mulago hospital, said that they are examining every other organ in the body, once they receive a patient, and following patients very closely to attend to any injury or changes in the virus's activity.
