By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
MBARARA
On 11th March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic and among the most affected world economies was domestic and foreign travels with a large number of tourists queued Airports for COVID-19 tests and sometimes travel bans while others were quarantined.
“On 17th December 2021 I set off from Mbarara and went to Entebbe airport to fly out of the country as usual to celebrate Christmas with my family in the US.” Prof Tamukong shares his personal experience of the COVID-19 recovery
At the airport I was subjected to a mandatory covid-19 test but un fortunately I was later told my test was positive. When I was preparing for a flight I was feeling very ok not until when they told me I had COVID-19. I immediately developed symptoms ranging from severe headache, joint pains and nausea.
I first stayed in a hotel room at the airport while on medication and on day two my oxygen circulation dropped drastically.
During a one day media Café on Covid-19 vaccination organized by Health Journalists Network Uganda at Oxford in, Prof Robert Tamukong said he could not wait anymore but to call his employer Mbarara University of science and Technology and told them how he was feeling and they immediately got in touch with Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Director who didn’t hastate to send an ambulance to pick him.
He added that he was immediately received by the Mbarara Referral covid-19 response team, admitted and was later transferred to a private hospital in Nyamitanga Division in order to avoid commotion at the hospital because many people wanted to know his progress.
Prof was winned off incubator after three days and was later discharged, but things were never the same. Prof said he later developed drug induced diabetes as well as lung collapse.
He disclosed that that to manage his condition, he had to buy a glucometer to monitor his glucose besides injecting himself with insulin before meals. He also bought a spirometer to keep monitoring his breath, a process that was costly.
His life did not remain the same because of the stigma he faced since most people started avoiding him from the day they heard he had tested positive for COVID-19.
When asked about the effects of COVID-19 vaccine, Prof Tamukong said the vaccine effects are overrated which he said is uncalled for.
As an expert in vaccine development, Prof Tamukong also said that Covid-19 vaccines have some side effects like any other vaccine or drug but they are not the worst and can be managed.
“In the late 1950’s to early 1960’s there was a drug called Thalidomide, a morning pill for pregnant women that led to children being born without limbs and it was eventually termed as man made disaster by some scientists. So covid-19 vaccines are safe and there’s no need to worry” Said Prof Tamukong.
Prof Robert Tamukong is an Associate Professor, Coordinator master of Pharmercy in clinical Pharmercy degree, Coordinator of postgraduate research and training at Mbarara University of science and technology. He is also CEO and founding member of Friends of Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center (PHARMBIOTRAC),USA.
Annita Matsika, the HEJNU media café convener in her closing remarks encouraged fellow journalists to always use their social media platforms to promote and sensitize their audiences on health programs that would improve on their well being.
She appealed to the media to always report objectively especially on health matters not to stigmatise the victims.
Halson Kagure, the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Public Relations Officer appealed to the public to go and get fully vaccinated.
