Dr Phiona Atuhebwe’s story is a from the frontline healthcare worker to a confirmed case story. The only good news is that unlike thousands of gellow healthcare workers who have succumbed to the disease, she survived to tell her close shave with death.
April 14th, 2020 will forever be etched in the memories of Dr. Atuhebwe, a Ugandan doctor working as a New Vaccines Introduction Medical Officer, at the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Congo Brazaville.
As a vaccinologist, she has been at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus at the organisation’s office in Congo Brazzaville, and little did she know that she would contract the disease herself.
In a 10 minute video posted on her social media platforms, the 37-year old Dr Atuhebwe tells of how on April 14, a doctor who had taken samples from her as one of the contacts called her and broke the news that she was among four of the 44 people that had tested positive for coronavirus.
“I don’t still remember how I felt. I was surprised but at the same time I remained strong,” Dr Atuhebwe, who is currently at a hospital in Berlin, Germany, said in an interview she posted on her social media pages on Thursday, May 7.
But at the same time, she said thoughts started running through her mind given that she was working in a country with a poorly equipped health care system, including not even having an Intensive Care Unit.
Nevertheless, she said that she was still strong, she remained in high spirits and in self-isolation.
However, Dr Atuhebwe said matters got out of hand about six days later when she became weak, dizzy, and developed severe headaches. She said that she was also feeling chest congestion.
“At this time, in my mind, I felt that I should return home where the medical facilities are available,” she said.
However, Dr Atuhebwe said that her employers decided that she be flown to Berlin, Germany for treatment.
She said that she was evacuated with a special flight after being dressed up in overalls from head to toe.
She said that she was also put on a special hospital bed and travelled through the cargo section of the airport.
Irene Mwoyogwona: Beyond the Numbers – How Pride Bank's Award-Winning CFO Combines Profitability and Social Impact“This was one of toughest moments of my life,” she said.
Nevertheless Dr Atuhebwe said that the plane arrived in Berlin after about 10 hours where she says she was put in the care of very kind doctors who looked after her.
She said during her stay in ICU, she heard many Covid-19 patients groaning and screaming in pain.
“In all this, I kept praying and thanking God since my condition was not worse than those others who were groaning,” Dr Atuhebwe said.
She said she was put on treatment and had since been declared negative following two tests.
She urged Ugandans not to underestimate the danger of coronavirus.
“Coronavirus is real. State home, stay home. Some of you think that you are being inconvenienced by the lockdown but you will get the disease and then you will know what it means,” she said.
Dr Atuhebwe sent the video interview on the day she is celebrating her 37th birthday.
She advises the public to heed to public health advisories on the containing the disease.
“This virus is real and it is not a joke. I know in Africa is about Covid-19 and lock us down; you will get it and understand. This Covid-19 seems distant from us, it is not respectful of any age, any race social class or religion; it doesn’t matter,” she says.
“I moved from the frontline to a Covid-19 case. I contributed to statistics of positive cases that countries were reporting in their numbers. Stay home, Stay Safe, Covid-19 is real,” she advises.
