Covid-19 Uganda, Kalongo: urgent purchase drugs & equipment

Covid-19 has reached Uganda. We have seen how dangerous and deadly the virus can be even in countries that have fully equipped hospitals with modern intensive care units. A recent study highlighted that in Uganda there are only 55 ICU beds in the entire country, mostly concentrated in the capital city Kampala, accounting to a ratio of 1.3 beds per million population https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883944119310597 Dr. Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital is located in Kalongo, a remote and isolated area of the country, with no ICU beds, this means there will be no possibility to treat patients who develop severe symptoms. The only way Kalongo hospital can fight Covid-19 is to prevent infection, to reinforce its medical staff and increase capacity for sub-intensive care. We are organising an urgent purchase of drugs, sundries, medical equipment, protective gear and reinforcement measures aimed at containing the virus in the territory of Kalongo hospital. Cost of drugs and sundries has started surging due to the increased demand worldwide, countries like Uganda whose health system depends on imported goods will be severely hit by this shortage in supply. It is urgent that we secure the hospital much needed goods, whilst we still have time to act.