ADJUMANI – The Ministry of Health has set up a Covid-19 laboratory in Adjumani District to cater for the rising cases at Elegu border in northern Uganda.
The laboratory, which will be based at Adjumani hospital, has the capacity to run 500 samples a day and will cater for districts such as Moyo, Amuru and Obongi districts.
The administrator of Adjumani hospital, Mr Michael Ojja, said the laboratory has the capacity to run about 190 samples in two hours.
He added that since the establishment of the laboratory a week ago, all the Covid-19 district taskforce members and health officials at isolation centres have been tested.
Adjumani district so far recorded 47 positive cases of Covid-19 since March with only one recovery while 233 people are living in Nyumani, Paridi stadium and Unna institutional quarantine centres.
Dr George Bhoka, Adjumani District Health Officer,(DHO), said previously the district has to dispatch Covid-19 samples to Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe and it takes two days for the results to come out unlike now where results will be declared in two hours.
“Availability of the laboratory will save the health department from spending money on fuel, staff allowances and wear and tear of ambulances” Dr Bhoka said.
Dr Bhoka, said the laboratory also will help in making quick decision in discharge and referral of positive cases for treatment.
