KAMPALA – The Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Acheng and State Minister for health in charge of general duties Hon Robinah Nabbanja have commissioned the first Port Health Laboratory in Uganda.
According to Ms Aceng, it is a gene expert laboratory with 2 machines and capacity to run 64 samples per hour.
“All truck drivers arriving via Mutukula point of entry will be tested for COVID-19 and results given within 45 minutes,” she said.
She added that, “If you are found positive, you cannot proceed with your journey..if you’re negative, you are released.”
Ms Aceng further revealed that the ministry of health has 260 gene machines that shall be put at the different borders to ease the testing of coronavirus.
Initially, the testing of COVID-19 was done at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and later at Makerere University Department of microbiology and immunology that was authorised to test rapid survey samples.
While addressing the nation on May 14, Dr Aceng revealed that Uganda has a large testing capacity of over 15,000 PCR tests per day adding that they have increased on the number of laboratories to test COVID-19.
They include; the National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services(CPHL) which will carry out 2,000 tests per day, Infectious Disease research collaboration in Tororo district, UVRI Plague laboratory in Arua, Gulu University, Rakai health sciences and Fort Portal regional referral hospital laboratories.
