For almost a month now, border points have posed the highest threat to Uganda’s fight against COVID-19 pandemic. A series of solutions have been directed to tame the spread of coronavirus by truck drivers but it still seemed risky as violations were sighted.
Good news coming in indicates that the government has launched the use of GeneXpert machines at border points of Mutukula and Malaba which will enable truck drivers to be tested and receive their Covid-19 results in 45 minutes.
The GeneXpert machine is known for testing Tuberculosis but recently World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that it can also be used to test for COVID-19.
Dr Julius Lutwama, the Deputy Executive Director of Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), said once a truck driver tests negative, they won’t need to wait for results from UVRI though they will continue to follow precautionary measures put in place by the government.
The Health Ministry revealed that health workers specifically laboratory technicians have been equipped with the necessary knowledge of how to operate the machine.