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School of Public Health
College of Health Sciences, Makerere University

Keeping Staff Safe from COVID 19. What Has Worked for MAKSPH?

Posted on : Sunday, February 14, 2021

Dr. Elizabeth Ekirapa, the head of the COVID-19 Workplace Task Force for the School of Public Health

By Dr. Elizabeth Ekirapa 

The COVID-19 crisis has put a lot of pressure on employers and workers generally. With the physical distancing measures achieving a sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates Makerere University authorized a gradual resumption of work activities.

Like other workplaces, the Makerere University School of Public Health was not spared from COVID-19. Indeed, we have had a few of our staff get infected with the COVID 19 Virus. However, the Virus has not had an easy time trying to infect the staff at the School of Public Health, because we prepared for the attack that we surely knew was going to come. 

The School Management set up a Workplace Task Force as soon as it was confirmed that the world was faced with a Pandemic, we knew it was only a matter of time and the virus would get to Africa. The task force members include Associate Professors Esther Buregyeya, Noah Kiwanuka, Peter Waiswa, Dr. Christine Nalwadda, Dr. Elizabeth Ekirapa Kiracho, Dr. Geofrey Musinguzi, and Ms. Faridah Mbambu. The undertakings for the Task Force were clear; To set up Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that would ensure that staff and students at the School were safe. These safety measures were in line with the Ministry of Health National guidelines for the management of COVID-19. 

These measures have tremendously achieved a sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates. Since the authorization of resumption of work activities, MakSPH has ensured strict enforcement of the measures. Everyone must wear a mask before entering the school premises and that mask stays on as long as you are more than one person in a room. The School also has automatic sanitizer dispensers which never run out of sanitizer conveniently placed at different entry points within the building. Whenever you feel like taking off your mask or not sanitizing you find yourself staring right at a poster that says, “No mask No entry!” or perhaps another that says, “Be part of the new normal! “you often find yourself dashing back to your office to pick the mask that you had forgotten on your desk so that you stop feeling like the “odd man out” or should “I say odd woman out”. 

The staff also ensure that their offices are not crowded by working at home on some days of the week or working in shifts. Face-to-face meetings have also been discouraged and so we have mainly virtual meetings except when absolutely necessary. 

 In the unfortunate instances when one of the staff of the School has been found positive, they immediately isolate themselves, receive treatment and stay away from the School until they have turned negative. All close contacts are also notified and advised to do tests to ensure they have not contracted the virus. 

The strict enforcement of these COVID-19 prevention measures has indeed kept us safe. If you are an employer, I advise you to ensure that your workplace strictly follows these rules and you and your staff will be safe too. But of course, these rules must be followed whether you are at family gatherings, in the field, or in the office because you may contact the virus outside the workplace and expose people at your workplace, but you could also transmit it from the office or the field to your loved ones at home. Be an agent for change and follow the rules. Don’t be complacent!

The writer is the head of the COVID-19 Workplace Task Force for the School of Public Health and the Head of the Department for Health Policy, Planning, and Management (HPPM)

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