In the month of June, the ICHAD field office, where SMART Africa-Uganda is housed, received a training from Mr. Kaggwa Emmanuel, the District Surveillance Focal person about proper use of thermometer guns. Body temperature readings are one important method to screen for coronavirus symptoms, with normal body temperature ranging between 36 and 37.5 degrees celsius. He also explained the role the Masaka COVID-19 Task Force plays in surveillance. In brief, once the surveillance office receives an alert call, they go to the suspected person’s home. If that person has a confirmed positive test, they provide counseling and allow them to make the necessary arrangements (e.g. identifying who will take responsibility for their homes/animals/finances) before taking them to the local Isolation Centre. If the person tests negative but was in contact with an infected individual, they take them to the institutional quarantine. The ICHAD team was taught how to properly use the temperature gun to avoid spreading COVID-19. Recommendations include:
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Keep a safe distance but position the gun so it is close, but not touching the person;
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Don’t face the thermometer directly at the person;
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Keep the thermometer in a cool place because when it is exposed to excessive heat it will not read the temperature;
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Clean the gun with wipes or sanitizer in case it touches the body.
The training was very informative and the team was able to screen and take thermometer readings for individuals attending the Kyaterekera Community Collaborative Board (CCB) meeting. (See above).
In addition, ICHAD and SMART Africa office spaces were recently restructured and repurposed to prepare for participant follow-up phone interviews, but also to ensure safety
