Uganda Medical Association Clashes with ministry of Health over Risk allowance & compensation plans

The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has clashed with the Health ministry over risk allowance and compensation plans for health workers managing patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). 

Addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday, Dr Samuel Oledo, the UMA president, said health workers who are treating EVD have not yet signed or received any risk allowance from the government. 

“The Ministry of Health has not provided a clear compensation plan for health workers who are dedicated and risking their lives at the front lines in this tough battle against EVD, a disease with a very high fatality rate,” he said.

Dr Oledo said this has demoralised their colleagues and affected the quality of care being offered to patients.

“Let the humility, the sacrifice and ability of health workers to give themselves to serve the nation not be taken as a witness of ignorance or inability to understand what they rightfully deserve. When it gets out of hand, we shall also get out of hand, which we don’t think you would wish us to do that,” he said. 

Two health workers have died of Ebola while 65 have been quarantined because they are contacts of the victims or were exposed to the virus, according to information from the Health Ministry. 

The disease has killed eight out of 38 confirmed cases, meaning it kills around 21 percent of those infected, according to the Health ministry.