KAMPALA - Ugandan health workers have
accused the government of endangering the lives of expectant
mothers and those in medical emergencies by requiring that all
seek permission to secure transportation to hospitals.
President Yoweri Museveni imposed a virtual lockdown on
Monday to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which has
so far infected 44 people in the East African country.
He banned private cars from the roads during the 14-day
period, saying that the government would assist in transporting
those who find themselves in medical emergencies to hospitals.
The ban on private cars was an escalation of a previous move
to stop all public transport vehicles from operating.
But there is no functioning public ambulance system for
medical evacuations, with many pregnant women, injured accident
and crime victims and others relying on private means to get
rushed to hospitals.
Ekwaro Obuku, a former head of Uganda's national association
of physicians, told Reuters the order to pull private cars from
the roads was likely to worsen an already-high maternal
mortality rate.
"Other medical emergencies like maternal have not stopped
because coronavirus has come," he said. "No mother in labour
pains should ask for permission to deliver her baby. We will end
up having unnecessary and preventable deaths."
Some critics and rights activists have accused the government
of relying on brute force to enforce anti-coronavirus measures.
"So we're going to have people dying en masse not from
COVID-19 but rather from preventable deaths, preventable medical
emergencies," said Adrian Jjuko, head of Human Rights Awareness
and Promotion Forum.
Don Wanyama, the president's spokesman, did not respond
immediately when Reuters sought comment.
Members of the police and the military were last week filmed
beating up people, including women selling fruits in parts of
the city centre, accusing them of defying orders to stay home.
The opposition has also warned that the urban poor might die
of hunger if the government does not offer them food or some
form of relief now that casual employment has fallen.
Museveni said anyone who attempts to distribute food to
vulnerable people would be arrested because such activities
would involve congregations that spread the virus.