Opinion: Our leaders need to answer for the dead

The deaths that is occurring because of the COVID-19 or Corona Virus spread has to answered too. Even if this old mistakes, forgotten pet-projects and even mismanaged straight to hell. The leadership, the administration and the governments of our current has to answer for that. This lack of investment, security and stockpiles of needed proportions has to answered for. There are to many casualties and deceased not too.

Yes, not all leaders are equal, neither is all to blame. However, the ones who is in office, who represent a constituency and who has the vote on the allocation of funds. They are all indebted to this. They could all have ensured legal framework, budget forecast and also sometimes even listen to forewarning of possible pandemics. Not like that is a new phenomenon. It hasn’t only been the plague and the Spanish Flue. There is no a big SARS family and COVID-19 is the last brother of this one together with Swine-Flu, MERS and SARS itself. They are all inter-connected, but still a variation of the same “gene-pool”. Therefore, the authorities, the Ministries of Health and the Heads of State should have invested more into this. That is if they cared or wanted to be more prepared in-case something like this occur. However, that they didn’t do.

We will in the future discuss, show the timelines and the lost time in every Nation and Republic. Where we can pin-point, who did where and what. How come there was lack of production and sales of PPE, why was there not enough ventilators and why not enough gloves, masks and whatnot for the nurses and doctors. Why where there no plan of execution and securing this as the state got hit with virus? Why where there no direct national guidelines or instruction to how to move, talk and ensure public safety. Since, this is not the first time the world has been hit with this, but this is a new breed still.

That is why the leadership has to blamed for all the lives that is lost. Every single soul is as much worth as the other. Even if some isn’t creating headlines or causing as much fuzz as the other ones. Still, in the eyes of God, they are equal and they need to be justified. These people are our neighbours, our grandparents and our siblings. These people are the loved ones lost, because we don’t have a cure and we don’t have enough medical expertise to even salvage their hurt. That is all on the leadership and the ones in-charge.

The ones dead now is as a result of losing control, losing the battle against a contagious virus, which we don’t have a cure too and doesn’t have the ammunition to beat in an open assault. However, the state, the leaders could have achieved more, if they listen to experts and if they prepared guidebooks, playbooks and protocol on how to act when these appear. What to do and what to say, what to order and what leverage you have to ensure more people lives get saved. However, that has been thrown out of the bus, or left and forgotten in some God forsaken archive, where no-one enters, unless its an lonely intern doing research to prove the boss of the faculty that his the next genius to get hired.

That is why we need to look to our leadership, the ones who lead and the ones who delegate. The ones who build systems, the ones who funds and the ones who uses the taxpayers money to make the health care system function. They are the ones we have representing us and who represented the deceased. The ones we shall not forget. They are maybe now lost for us, but their memory will live on.

With that in mind, their sacrifice and their hardships shall not be forgotten. That they took the bullet and ended their lives. Because of that, we the living has to battle this and continue to pursuit the truth and the vaccine. However, also have the clear-mind and spirit. Wanting the truth and the end-game of it all. Where we can beg to question, why didn’t you do more and what gives?

Why should I accept this massive amount of death-toll, when you could have contained it or used more powers in office? Why should I accept that you didn’t use the State of Emergency and acts to procure more equipments for the hospitals? Why didn’t you stockpile more in the sunny days and only started to buy umbrellas when it rains? Why didn’t you ensure more people where insured or was covered by the state to get treatment? Why didn’t you take the early advice and even the ones forewarning of this years ahead? Why, Why didn’t you?

How can you on a stack of bibles and in front of the Holy Father answer for you negligence and lack of due diligence?

Because, that is what you have to do. You didn’t play your part, but you ate the stake and drank the champagne. However, you did not secure the lives of the ones you represented. You let them die and that was on your watch. These people trusted you, but they shouldn’t have. Peace.

Opinion: A crisis like we’re living through now is exposing the leadership

You can sit back- and enjoy the show. No, you really cannot. There is no enjoyment. Nor relaxing, as the uncertainty is growing. The howling questions of how long will this state last and what measures are truly working.

We have borders closed. Airports shut-down, schools, churches, libraries and bars/restaurant all closed for the moment. There are only the bare minimum and necessities are still open. Hospitals are getting full of people with symptoms, the lack of enough health care workers, ventilators, masks and medicine is happening. Even enough test-kits and whatnot. This is an international problem and not just a problem locally.

The leadership with this sort of affair is exposed. The lack of enough ICU beds and extra ventilators, respirators and everything else shows the lack of investment. Also, that they never thought it could become like this. There was no plan for emergencies of these levels. There was no response team or task force put in place to research this.

The state have in the sunshine days never expected this. Even if there been smaller crisis like the Swine-flu and the SARS. Now COVID-19 or the Coronavirus is exposing the matters. They are showing that the Health Care systems provided wasn’t measured for this. Neither was the will to create enough beds and equipments for a possible outbreak. Now, there is added measures and procurement. Now, other factories are creating the needs, which usually made designer cloths and fabrics. Suddenly are used to fix the issues at hand. That is good business for them, but also a proof of actual leadership.

The things done and measures put are done with good intentions. The social distancing and the washing of hands programs. The solidarity and the asking for time to fix it. However, the states itself. The leadership should ask themselves, why they didn’t deal with it better in the sun, but cries havoc in the rain. There is a need for this hindsight 20/20 and also wondering if they could have invested more and built more robust hospitals.

It is easy to catch the breath for 10 seconds and check if you cough or not like the Taiwanese experts says. It is easy to wash hands and avoid other people. Be one meter away and if you have any symptoms, be home. That is not rocket-science.

However, the barricades at home. Still, should ask the authorities and the state if they could have done more to prevent it. If there was enough warnings and signs to follow. I don’t know, but I am questioning it.

Because, the lack of leadership, the lack of taking responsibility and the adjustment from the state. Shows that some states didn’t take this seriously and therefore, the public will now suffer. Just as they have not put measures or the needed investments from the federal state nor the central government to actually do something.

The ones hit the most is usually the poor, the poorly educated and the ones whose not covered. The ones who doesn’t have a pot to piss in and the ones whose far to reach. The ignorant and the ones with to much to pride to understand the task at hand. These are the ones the state needs to shelter and give direct relief too. Not its easy, it never is and it will cost.

But, if we cannot see redemption for the weakest among us, then who are we then? We are just shallow human beings, never thinking this could strike us too. At one point, it might be a neighbour or a family member. There is no boundaries with a pandemic or a crisis like this. Sooner or later, this bitch hits home.

The only redeeming thing we have then is a cut-throat situation, where the facts remains. The results are already there, we can accept them or be defeated. We can either look into the gist, into the headlines and let it be. We can accept to be muffled and toyed with or we can also question the powers to be. By all means, follow the instructions and show solidarity, but still at the same time wonder if they did enough.

Because, when the days are over and this slows down. When this is under control and the scientists, the doctors and the pharma-industry has fixed this. Then, we can look over the measures, look over the numbers and the statistics. Look over the timeline and ask ourselves. Did the leadership enough. Did the authorities do the right thing. That is what we should ask ourselves.

Last but not least. You really see where the leadership gives a damn, where they are trying to propagandaize this and where they trying to fix it. There is really different realities. There is various of attempts, but also small cover-ups, which will come to light later. Where own personal business, where own personalities has destroyed the effects and the possible changes quickly. Instead tried to downplay the pandemic and acted a fool. The ones paying the cost is the citizens and everyone else involved. They will be remembered for that, as they could see from the outbreak to today. That there were measures to make, but instead they deflected them. That is their legacy.

Leadership of our times is exposed. They could have done, what they precautions they could have done and what they did under the sun. Says a lot, but in the rain it is more important with an umbrella. Now, they are teasing those, but need to get them quickly for all of us. Let’s hope they get enough. Peace.

Opinion: Big-Men’s Medical Tourism is temporary suspended [and their neglect will be obvious]

We have seen over the years, that big-men from developing countries instead of fixing their own health-care system or even supporting the needs of the Ministry of Health. They have at every junction instead used foreign health care and hospitals to salvage the hurt and heal.

Now in this COVID-19 or Coronavirus times, the borders are closed, ending flights between the nations and the quarantine of people crossing borders. The big-men cannot flea their own health care facilities, but instead has to trust them like everyone else. The neglect, the lack of investment and the years of brain-drain has hurt these hospitals and health care facilities.

They have gotten aid, gotten grants and promised to build sustainable health care facilities. However, the big-men have never trusted these ones. Only the ones whose retired and the ones who hasn’t saved up in office. Has in the end of their days and because of lack funds. They have used them and seen the grim state.

Like there been high ranking officials, who suddenly needs care and been brought to the closest hospital after a public function. Usually picked up by a army chopper and flown to the best nearby facility. However, than they have lacked electricity, enough beds, medicines or needed technical apparatus to function. That was okay, when the locals needed it, but when they pop-by than its an outcry. The state cannot even procure enough ambulances and have proper levels of in-need educated professionals in the field.

That is why, this sort of crisis undress the years of neglect, the years of corruption and lack of investment in the field. If they will lack blood, air and other needed things. It will be, because they didn’t care in days of sunshine. Now, that its raining and the roads are getting muddy. Than, the big-men will suffer with the general public.

They are maybe VIPs and have giant convoys. They are maybe paid a fortune for their high office and high ranking in society. However, they have to enter the same facilities, which they didn’t think of or consider. Because, there was always, China, Singapore, France or United States. Where they could go for check-ups and healing. Where they got better treatment and with modern facilities made for patching the hurt.

Now, they cannot go there. They are blocked. They cannot risk to enter there and the borders are closing in. The Big-men doesn’t have the meal-ticket or ability pay an easy way out. Instead, they have to suffer with public.

There is no way out. Just continue, but maybe their eyes will be opened when they will be questioned why they didn’t spend the needed funds in sunshine, but cries out during the rain. They spent on the army, ghosts and side-dishes. Nevertheless, they didn’t care for the health care, for the structures of healing and proper treatment.

Now, they will hold prayer sessions and ask for the Gods to intervene. Instead of using their minds and used their time to invest. They could have invested and could have made a difference. Instead, they got warplanes, got ammunition to start wWrld War III, but cannot have enough beds for a pandemic. Peace.

The State of Health service delivery and financing: CSO perspectives (17.03.2019)

WHO Director-General applauds Uganda’s Ebola preparedness response (03.01.2019)

Kampala 3 January 2019:- The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO DG), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has lauded Uganda for the Ebola preparedness response mounted, so far, in the high-risk districts of the country.

Dr Tedros said that Uganda’s disease outbreak response system is recognized globally for its effectiveness. He commended the government for the support rendered during the ongoing vaccination exercising, saying, “The vaccination exercise will go a long way in saving the lives of frontline health workers and health care workers and we are really grateful for the government’s commitment and support.”

He made these remarks at a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister where he met key government dignitaries including; the Prime Minister- Right Honourable Dr Ruhakana Rugunda; Minister of Foreign Affairs- Hon Sam Kuteesa; Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs- Hon Bright Rwamirama; Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary-Dr Diana Atwiine and other government officials.

He highlighted the appreciation by Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of Uganda for the support in the ongoing outbreak response especially regarding capacity building in Infection Prevention and Control and cross-border screening and surveillance.

Dr Tedros emphasized the need to amplify Primary Health Care (PHC) in Uganda in order to prevent diseases among the population. He added that health promotion and prevention of communicable and Non-communicable disease are key to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The Prime Minister of Uganda, Right Honorable Dr Ruhakana Rugunda appreciated WHO’s endless support to Uganda, saying, “Whatever Uganda has managed to achieve in public health is because of the general leadership of WHO.”

He noted, with concern, the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC, and commended WHO and partners in the response for braving the harsh conditions to save lives. “Your hard work and sacrifice do not go unnoticed”, he said.

Dr Ruhakana also highlighted the importance of PHC to Uganda. “We have no choice but to support PHC. It is the key to tackling many of the afflictions we are getting”, he said. He committed the government to achieve UHC in Uganda.

In the wake of the Ebola outbreak that is affecting the Eastern part of DRC close to the Uganda-DRC border, Uganda is implementing a series of activities to ensure that the country is protected from the Ebola outbreak or able to control the outbreak in case of a confirmed case in Uganda. These include vaccination of frontline health workers, screening of travellers at the points of entry, risk communication and community engagement, enhanced surveillance including community-based disease surveillance and cross-border surveillance. Other activities include the collection and testing of blood samples from alert cases, capacity building for case management, psycho-social care and capacity building for safe and dignified burials.

The meeting was attended by government officials, the media and officials from WHO headquarters and WHO Uganda country office.

Joint Press Release, the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization: Clarification on alleged Ebola Death in Kabarole District (28.11.2018)

Hoima Regional Referal Hospital Director Dr. Peter Mukobi letter to LCI Hoima Muncipality Chairman Mohammed Kyimba: “Request to Provide a Written Explaination on the Allegations Against Hoima RRH” (16.11.2018)

Uganda Cancer Institute Press Release glitches in the radiotherapy machine (30.08.2018)

Uganda: Ebola in DRC – Ministry of Health Issues prevention guidelines (10.05.2018)

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwine letter to Secretary of MOFPED Keith Muhakanizi on “Operationation of Hope for Humanity Rehabilitation Centres in Amoro and Kitgum District” (12.03.2018)