KAMPALA – Medical doctors have threatened to lay down tools over the continued torture by security forces u during the lockdown over coronavirus.
Under their umbrella body, the Uganda Medical Association (UMA), the doctors say that their members have continued to be at the receiving end of the wrath of security forces.
“Over the past 1 week, we have recorded several incidents of torture of the frontline soldiers in this pandemic with several arrests and even battering of health workers. This is unacceptable and repugnant,” Dr Mukuzi Muhereza, the UMA Secretary-General, said in a statement released on Friday, April 3.
He added that whereas health workers have been listed as essential workers supposed to work during the lockdown, they are struggling to get stickers.
“We were classified as ‘essential services’ but up to now we have failed to secure movement stickers to reach our designated workplaces. We have been tossed around attended numerous meetings that don’t seem to end or have a way forward on this,” Dr Muhereza said.
“Some Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) are charging Doctors 20,000 to access a district made sticker. This is unacceptable,” he added.
Dr Muhereza also urged health workers in government hospitals who lack protective equipment to keep away and not risk their lives.
“U.M.A guides that if there is no protective equipment, don’t risk your life as a Health Worker. A sick or dead health worker is not helpful to himself, his family or his patient,” he said.
“We are calling upon the government to enable Health Workers reach patients in any way possible: Health Workers have identity cards and practicing licences.
If the torture and these hindrances continue, we will have no other option other than requesting our members to stay away from all heath facilities.”