The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30. Subsequently, Uganda declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency. As part of the efforts to contribute to the pandemic preparedness and response, a MakSPH team led by Steven Ssendagire and Doreen Tuhebwe in collaboration with Ministry of Health prepared a training package on getting workplaces ready to deal with COVID -19.
This is recognition of the fact that workplaces are potential places for amplification of COVID-19; can serve as an early warning system for COVID-19 detection and COVID-19 can disrupt business if workplaces do not plan for its eventualities in advance. The training package was first delivered to personnel of City Medicals Limited and City Ambulances Uganda on March 24. The training facilitates employers and employees to appreciate how COVID-19 will likely affect their business and facilitates them to identify actionable recommendations to protect the employees, customers and business against the potential negative impact of COVID-19 into a contingency plan. As part of the training package pull-up banners with messages on COVID-19 were designed and can accessed by the employers to enable continued learning.
At a minimum, each organisation must: Develop a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan; Prepare to Implement Basic Infection Prevention Measures; Develop Policies and Procedures for Prompt Identification and referral of Sick People; Develop, Implement, and Communicate about Workplace Flexibilities and Protections; Implement Workplace Controls and Follow guidelines instituted by government
This training package is now available online and can be accessed by many organisations across Uganda and beyond via URL: https://youtu.be/LjT9bdPvhEc
