The government of Uganda has said it is not ready to evacuate 105 Ugandan students stuck in the Chinese city of Wuhan amidst the deadly Coronavirus outbreak.
The latest position of government on the matter was communicated in a statement the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng read to parliament on Thursday. The minister said repatriating the students is more risky, yet the country lacks capacity to handle the Corona-virus outbreak yet the health system is overstretched handling several other outbreaks.
The minister said government has taken a position of maintaining the students in one Chinese City with close monitoring of their situation, and welfare. She said from the public health point of view, it is safer to keep the persons in one place since travel procedures can lead to spread of the virus.
“Madam Speaker, does Uganda have the capacity to handle a Corona Virus outbreak? In terms of specialized isolation facilities with specialized equipment, my answer is No!” This virus is new and spreads very fast. In addition, the country is overstretched with outbreaks; the Ebola threat is still ongoing, there is yellow fever in Buliisa, Moyo and Maracha, yet the health workforce is very thin on the ground.
Dr. Acieng also disputed rumors that some African countries have repatriated its students but took cognizant of the anxiety, distress, uncertainty and pain the outbreak has caused to parents. She however noted that no Ugandan student in Wuhan has yet contracted the disease.
“To date Honorable Speaker, no African country has repatriated its students. Rumors going on that some have done so, is false” The minister said. She however said there is no ban to travel for any student or traveler outside Wuhan City, so those who can facilitate themselves back home can do it.
The minister reported that Ugandan students living in university halls of residence are provided with food, and the Ministry of foreign affairs is in the process of wiring $61,800 to support the students in the interim as more evaluation of the situation takes place. She said the funds are ready and it will be sent directly to students phones as soon as possible.
She also said repatriation as an option is not only risky but also costly.
“Chattering a plane to pick the students from China is another expensive venture with the cost varying from $500,000 to $1M since big airlines can only go to China considering the long distance travel involved” she noted.