Dozens of In-patients and caretakers have deserted Budaka health centre four after three covid19 patients died at the health facility.

According to witnesses, there was a stampede at the hospital as several In-patients at the facility rushed to obtain discharge forms from medical workers.

Dr. John Wogabaga, the facility administrator, confirmed the incident to The Tower Post on phone.

He said several patients and their care takers took off from the wards after seeing two adults succumb to covid 19 and others testing positive.

“Its true patients have run away from here possibly due to the corona scare as two adults died at the adult ward and another pregnant woman that was referred to mbale also died on her way, so the number of patients has reduced drastically,’’ Wogabaga said

He noted that with the rising number of Covid 19 patients the facility is ill equipped to manage the cases.

‘’Some of the cases are rushed here but we don’t have an isolation ward, no oxygen and personal protective equipment so handling such cases is challenging and it’s putting the lives of health workers at risk, we are expected to do much but we are not empowered,” he said.

The doctor revealed that the majority of the health workers have contracted the virus and are currently bedridden and others are under home based management.

According to Wogabaga maternity is the only busy ward at the facility as OPD, General wards remain empty.

The facility with obsolescence wards has been receiving over 500 patients of different health complications daily.

Equally there was panic in Budaka town when news of the confirmed Covid-19 cases spread like wild fire as others struggled to obtain masks.

As of today Monday 21st June 2021 a total 132 positive cases have been recorded with 5 cases admitted at ICU Mbale.

During the task force meeting last week the areas of Budaka, Kamonkoli, Mugiti and Kameruka were named as hot spots for covid 19 where 3 out of the 10 people tested turned out to be positive.

RDC Tom Chesol has however directed the sub county chiefs to reactivate sub county task force meetings.

He noted that although the district is currently grappling with no funds, the sub county task forces should resume their activities immediately adding that their investigation reveals that some bars, markets, churches and schools are still operating illegally despite the ban.