By Asenath Were
Uganda Christian University (UCU) is known for producing quality-ready products ready for the job market. However, whenever there is demand in the community, UCU students come to provide a solution. The outbreak of COVID-19 set everyone on the alert to save lives. UCU nursing students were called upon to step in and help Mukono General Hospital in the COVID-19 mass vaccination around Mukono.
According to Claire Nagawa, a nursing student who is in her third year, the campaign started two weeks ago by Mukono General hospital.
The aim was to take the services closer to the residents of Mukono. Therefore, they have been on the move for the last two weeks, going to different villages in Mukono vaccinating people, and Uganda Christian University has been the last stop.
“This has been a two-week campaign. We have therefore been going around Mukono Villages vaccinating people, making UCU our last step unless otherwise. However, the response of students is slow and the problem might have been communication.” Claire said.
Nagawa also added that apart from vaccination, emphasis is also being put on the SOPs where people are encouraged to uphold them. They should continue washing their hands, avoid large gatherings, to mention but a few.
Collin Isabirye, another nursing student done with his year three, said that the booster shot is no longer for only the elderly but has been legalized starting at age 18 and above.
“After the last dose, you wait for six months, and then you can go for the booster shot, which is a third dose of COVID-19.” The dose is given due to the assumption that after the six months of your last dose, the antibodies were reduced and therefore your body is in need of more antibodies,” he said.
Guma Daniella, an accounting and finance student in year one (BSAF 1-2), overcame her injection fears today to take her first dose.
“I am scared of injections, which prevented me from getting any last year, but I would have to do it eventually. Therefore, since the opportunity presented itself today, I decided to come.” Guma said.
COVID-19 is still real, though people have very negative attitudes towards vaccination against it for fear of the alleged side effects. Munene Michael, a business administration student in year three, is one of the victims of these allegations.
Munene never cared to get vaccinated last year because he had his doubts about the vaccine, was afraid of the alleged side effects, and was also discouraged by the fact that one was still in the position of contracting the disease regardless of the vaccination.
I had my doubts about the vaccine, but I am now sure that it works and gives me the chance to prevent the disease, but it also prevents me from being a carrier or spreading it to other people. Said Munene.
COVID-19 is a pandemic that hit the world in the early 2020s. We are still battling with it on a smaller scale, though. We should all, therefore, uphold the SOPs set by the World Health Organization to fight against the pandemic.
