Makerere Preps for Coronavirus

Makerere University has appointed a committee to coordinate preparations for the possible outbreak of the COVID-19 which caused by the Coronavirus.

Makerere, as the most populated education institution in the country stands a high spread risk in case of an outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease.

In a statement yesterday, the University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted a number of factors that puts the campus in a unique situation as the country braces for the almost inevitable outbreak.

Among these, Nawangwe noted that Makerere has a community of International Students, some from countries where COVID-19 has been confirmed and that many teaching staff frequently travel to and from several countries where the virus has been confirmed.

The university also holds frequent local and international conferences and workshops, has congested lecture rooms, libraries, dining halls and Halls of Residence and mass gatherings

Following guidance from the Ministry of Health, the University has since instituted a Committee on COVID-19 Preparedness which is among others tasked with developing and implementation of the Makerere UniversityCOVID-19 Preparedness Strategy

The committee will also facilitate creation of provisional isolation facilities (and standby ambulance services) at the Makerere University Hospital for any identified COVID-19 suspect