KIU, Western Campus – The KIU Western Campus administration has set stringent COVID-19 measures for returning finalist students to ensure that all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) put in place by the Ministry of Health are followed to the letter.

These measures were agreed upon during the KIU Western Campus COVID-19 task force meeting held today, September 28 in the KIU hospital boardroom. This follows a training the university task force underwent on June 2, which was facilitated by the Assistant District Health Officer for Bushenyi district, Dr Eliab Tayebwa, which was aimed at increasing the campus’ vigilance in handling the risk posed by the potential resumption of business by students and staff after lifting of the lockdown.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for KIU Western Campus Prof. Patrick Kyamanywa (in the picture) urged members of the task force to be very vigilant in ensuring that students and staff follow the SOPs.

“As a task force, we should be very vigilant. We should have a high index of suspicion on everyone with the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 like running nose, persistent cough, shortness of breath, high temperatures, joint pains, sore throat, headaches and tiredness,” Prof Kyamanywa said.

He assured the task force that the university will ensure a steady supply of handwashing equipment and sanitizing material at all entry points and departments of the university and hospital. 

He also said that there will be infrared thermometers at all points of entry and everyone will have to undergo mandatory temperature taking before accessing the premises of the university. 

Prof Kyamanywa also lauded the School of Nursing for making and supplying masks for the university and hospital staff.

The Executive Director of KIU Teaching Hospital Dr Robinson Ssebuufu advised everyone to treat the other as a COVID-19 suspect but also said that the hospital was well prepared for any eventuality.

“We are part of the district COVID-19 taskforce and we have been earmarked as an isolation centre and treatment centre if it comes to that. We have also drafted SOPs for students and we have told them to come with double-layered masks which they should wear at all times,” Prof Ssebuufu said.

He also advised students to observe social distancing and all hygiene procedures once they return.

Health Sciences students have returned to university today September 28 while finalist students from other courses are set to return on October 15 after President Yoweri Museveni opened university for finalists in his latest presidential COVID-19 address to the nation on September 19.