Kampala, 15th October 2014:- The 13th Dr. Mathew Lukwiya which was organized Makerere University College of Health Sciences in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) and Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health, (UNACOH) was held at Imperial Royale Hotel to remember the health workers that lost their lives to Ebola and other diseases.

Dr James Mutende who represented the Speaker of Parliament  said that the health workers safety is sometimes under-looked and yet it’s crucial. He noted that usually and unfortunately, the health workers that were killed by Ebola realized when it was too late.

Dr. Mutende said that health systems need to be looked into and the safety of the health workers made a priority.

 “Government should promote safe, conducive conditions and attractive packages for health workers”, he said.

Workers Member of Parliament, Dr. Sam Lyomoki, who also represented the Uganda Health Workers Union said that the health system in Uganda was in a deplorable state and needed to be worked. He pointed out the poor quality of Personal Protective Equipment given to the health workers and called upon government and health institutions to invest more in Health workers safety.

Dr. Mbonye Patrick who represented the Director General of Health Services said that Uganda is still prone to Ebola. He however said that due to the four epidemics Uganda had faced, coordination had been heightened and resources to fight the epidemic made available. “The National and District surveillance offices coordinate to ensure that there’s proper flow of information,” he said.

The World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu said that the year 2000 was a critical moment that took the country by surprise and a lot of sacrifice had been made. He said “Ebola fight in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leon and Nigeria is being headed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Mon. He noted that the Ebola in West Africa has gone beyond what the health systems in those countries can manage.

He said that most health workers were affected at the initial stage of dealing with the disease before they acquired Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). “With provision of PPE, there has been a reduction almost to zero of infected health workers’, he said.

Dr. Alemu conveyed his heartfelt thoughts to those who had lost their loved live and their families. Further more he called upon governments and medical institutions to invest vastly in their health systems. He further pointed out that the weakened health systems in Africa have made workers operate in risky situations which has led to some of them losing their lives.

The Ebola epidemic in Uganda claimed the life of Dr. Mathew Lukwiya and 24 other health workers’ lives in Gulu and six lives in Bundibugyo in 2007.

A report by WHO indicates that Ebola has sickened 5,843 people and caused 2,803 deaths in West Africa. 337 health workers have also been sickened and 181 have died which indicates that 8% of the reported Ebola cases are health workers, 7% of those have died from Ebola.

In attendance were members from medical fraternity, Government, Civil Society Organizations, Academia and the media.