As of March 26th, 14 cases of COVID-19 have been documented in Uganda. None of Uganda’s documented cases have been in the Northern region, where BIG FIX is located.
On March 18th, Uganda’s President Yoweri Musevini ordered that schools be closed, and that public gatherings such as church services be discontinued. On the 25th of March, all public transit was suspended, including the boda boda (motorbike taxis) that people use to travel from the villages to Gulu town in the North.
In response to the pandemic, the BIG FIX has doubled up sanitation and implemented procedures for receipt of patients and their guardians. Our hospital remains open 7 days a week and our two resident veterinary doctors who live on site continue to handle emergency cases during the night. We are also continuing emergency transport of animals in need. However, our school outreach, community mural painting, and weekly mobile clinics have been suspended for the next thirty days.
Unfortunately, the already-fragile Ugandan economy is experiencing severe inflation as a result of this crisis. The cost of beans increased in one week from 3500 shillings (about 1 dollar) per kilo to more than 7000 shillings. The BIG FIX quickly held a fundraiser and gathered the money to purchase 10 kg of beans and posho (corn meal) as well as washing soap for the families of each of our staff members. We also continue to provide daily lunch for our staff, as well as to be one of the few employers in Northern Uganda that provides full medical coverage for our team members.
In his March 26 address, President Musevini quoted the Bible and noted In Isaiah 26:20, it says, “Go home, my people, and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the LORD’s anger has passed.”
Until that time, our devoted BIG FIX staff continues to carry out our mission, and to work hard every day to care for the animals brought to our hospital, and all of our Comfort Dogs and their guardians.
On March 18th, Uganda’s President Yoweri Musevini ordered that schools be closed, and that public gatherings such as church services be discontinued. On the 25th of March, all public transit was suspended, including the boda boda (motorbike taxis) that people use to travel from the villages to Gulu town in the North.
In response to the pandemic, the BIG FIX has doubled up sanitation and implemented procedures for receipt of patients and their guardians. Our hospital remains open 7 days a week and our two resident veterinary doctors who live on site continue to handle emergency cases during the night. We are also continuing emergency transport of animals in need. However, our school outreach, community mural painting, and weekly mobile clinics have been suspended for the next thirty days.
Unfortunately, the already-fragile Ugandan economy is experiencing severe inflation as a result of this crisis. The cost of beans increased in one week from 3500 shillings (about 1 dollar) per kilo to more than 7000 shillings. The BIG FIX quickly held a fundraiser and gathered the money to purchase 10 kg of beans and posho (corn meal) as well as washing soap for the families of each of our staff members. We also continue to provide daily lunch for our staff, as well as to be one of the few employers in Northern Uganda that provides full medical coverage for our team members.
In his March 26 address, President Musevini quoted the Bible and noted In Isaiah 26:20, it says, “Go home, my people, and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the LORD’s anger has passed.”
Until that time, our devoted BIG FIX staff continues to carry out our mission, and to work hard every day to care for the animals brought to our hospital, and all of our Comfort Dogs and their guardians.