Why Tanzanian doctor who died of Ebola was buried in Uganda
Ebola burial team transports Dr Mohammed Ali’s body to the public cemetery at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital on October 2, 2022. Inset is the deceased. PHOTO/ALEX ASHABA
What you need to know:
- Dr Alex Adaku, the hospital director, said the decision was taken after consultations with the Health ministry, Kampala International University (KIU), and the Embassy of Tanzania
Dr Mohammed Ali, the 37-year-old Tanzanian doctor, who succumbed to Ebola at the weekend, was buried in a public cemetery in Fort Portal yesterday to avoid the spread of the deadly virus to neighbouring Tanzania.
Dr Ali had been admitted to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital.
Dr Alex Adaku, the hospital director, said the decision was taken after consultations with the Health ministry, Kampala International University (KIU), and the Embassy of Tanzania.
“This is in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health that stipulate that deaths of such an epidemic should be buried where they occur to avoid the spread,” he said.
Last week, Dr Ali had been evacuated with other five health workers from Mubende Hospital to Fort Portal where they have been receiving treatment.
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health minister, said the five medical students are responding to treatment.
Dr Adaku also confirmed that another KIU medical student has been admitted to the facility after testing positive for the virus.
He said by yesterday, they had six health workers in the isolation ward.
“This student brought himself at our facility for testing, he was working with Dr Ali and other health workers who contracted Ebola and are admitted to our facility. They were all working in Mubende,” he said.
