Uganda has enacted nearly daily rules in response to COVID-19, so this week we have been working with our team in Gulu on the new guidelines put in place by President Museveni.
We are caring for more than 30 patients presently and will continue to serve the animals and people. Veterinary has been deemed one of the essential services in Uganda so we are to remain open. Public transport has been completely eliminated and private transport is also restricted. The only transport allowed is single driver "bodas" (motorbike taxis) carrying cargo or single driver cargo trucks which have been screened and authorized in Kampala. A curfew is in place and people are not permitted to leave their homes after dark.
We have been ordered also to house staff on premises unless they live very close to us. Shopkeepers also are not permitted to leave their shops and must sleep on premises and only foodstuffs may be sold, all other sales have been restricted or eliminated.
We have enough food to feed staff remaining during the upcoming isolation period, and will increase the amount of food cooked for staff lunch so them at the staff remaining can eat in the evening also since we are not permitted to leave. We will reassess our food needs in two weeks.
We are having a challenge getting veterinary supplies needed since bus transport has been stopped and that is our primary means of sending and receiving deliveries in Uganda, however we are waiting to see tomorrow how the State House will handle distribution of food and critical supplies and how we can logistically work in getting what we need. It may be necessary to hire government approved cargo transport to get the drugs and vaccines we need.
We continue to receive patients at the hospital with strict enforcement of our gate and entry guidelines. A wash center has been placed by the front gate and we have a gate keeper present at all times to ensure patients are received only within our new protocols. No visitors are allowed into the hospital building or beyond the entry area.
We have incurred extra emergency expenses including about $225 (to purchase hand sanitizer, soap and drinking water), and approximately $380 to purchase extra food for staff and for our staff lunch at BIG FIX. We are still trying to acquire a water dispenser which is needed on an emergency basis and will be an extra cost of about $180, and extra costs to try to procure needed drugs and supplies and arrange to get them to us in Gulu.
We are all very proud of our management team in Gulu, who are doing an amazing job of working to respond to daily changes by the State House and carrying on with our work during these exceptionally challenging times.
Please rest assured that we are fully committed to continuing to carry on our mission and to caring for our staff and the animals in our care. Your support will be much appreciated as we will undoubtedly continue to incur additional unanticipated expenses during this time.
We are caring for more than 30 patients presently and will continue to serve the animals and people. Veterinary has been deemed one of the essential services in Uganda so we are to remain open. Public transport has been completely eliminated and private transport is also restricted. The only transport allowed is single driver "bodas" (motorbike taxis) carrying cargo or single driver cargo trucks which have been screened and authorized in Kampala. A curfew is in place and people are not permitted to leave their homes after dark.
We have been ordered also to house staff on premises unless they live very close to us. Shopkeepers also are not permitted to leave their shops and must sleep on premises and only foodstuffs may be sold, all other sales have been restricted or eliminated.
We have enough food to feed staff remaining during the upcoming isolation period, and will increase the amount of food cooked for staff lunch so them at the staff remaining can eat in the evening also since we are not permitted to leave. We will reassess our food needs in two weeks.
We are having a challenge getting veterinary supplies needed since bus transport has been stopped and that is our primary means of sending and receiving deliveries in Uganda, however we are waiting to see tomorrow how the State House will handle distribution of food and critical supplies and how we can logistically work in getting what we need. It may be necessary to hire government approved cargo transport to get the drugs and vaccines we need.
We continue to receive patients at the hospital with strict enforcement of our gate and entry guidelines. A wash center has been placed by the front gate and we have a gate keeper present at all times to ensure patients are received only within our new protocols. No visitors are allowed into the hospital building or beyond the entry area.
We have incurred extra emergency expenses including about $225 (to purchase hand sanitizer, soap and drinking water), and approximately $380 to purchase extra food for staff and for our staff lunch at BIG FIX. We are still trying to acquire a water dispenser which is needed on an emergency basis and will be an extra cost of about $180, and extra costs to try to procure needed drugs and supplies and arrange to get them to us in Gulu.
We are all very proud of our management team in Gulu, who are doing an amazing job of working to respond to daily changes by the State House and carrying on with our work during these exceptionally challenging times.
Please rest assured that we are fully committed to continuing to carry on our mission and to caring for our staff and the animals in our care. Your support will be much appreciated as we will undoubtedly continue to incur additional unanticipated expenses during this time.