Ugandan medical personnel who joined the fight against the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa should be decorated as heroes for their selfless contribution to saving lives on the continent. Thirteen health workers from Uganda helped rebuild health systems and train thousands in Liberia and Sierra Leone where hundreds died of the Ebola disease.
The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga led the call for their recognition while officiating at the end of an Ebola solidarity run which ended at the CHOGM gardens at Parliament .She heaped praise on the Uganda medical team for risking their own lives to save the people in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“As a country, I think we are shy on what we do. We sent our human resource to Somalia for peace keeping missions but we didn’t celebrate them. A special team was sent to West Africa to fight Ebola but we have not properly recognized them”, she told runners.
Rt.Hon. Speaker who hailed the work of the national task force on epidemics said she would address the matter with the President. She also reaffirmed her commitment to have Parliament hold a special sitting to honor medical workers who fight Ebola and other deadly epidemics.
The State Minister for Health Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye in his address called for the establishment of a special emergency fund that will pool resources for handling deadly disease outbreaks. He said the Ministry would support calls by the Uganda Ebola Fighters Network to ensure early detection of diseases before they spread and wipe out communities.
The Ebola Solidarity Run will be an annual event to celebrate the commitment of medical workers to the fight against the disease.