The Faces of Care campaign was part of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology's (ICT) response plan to COVID-19, done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
It is the government's digital and social media project to profile health workers at the centre of fighting the pandemic in selected parts of the country. The project aims to put a human face to those fighting against COVID-19 and celebrate them in their different capacities.
It was also meant to give an opportunity to frontline health workers to share their stories and experiences.
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Guyana Regina (27), a cleaner at the Hoima Regional Referral Hospital's COVID-19 isolation unit where she performs her daily duties. Regina is one of the staff at the hospital who offered to continue serving when the hospital admitted COVID-19 patients. She cleaned the unit three times a day and this created a good relationship between her and some of the patients in the unit.
"I was off duty when the first patient who was a man was admitted to the unit. I had to call off my leave and take charge to organize the unit for him to feel comfortable. I have loved and appreciated myself more as a cleaner because I am not idol and I felt essential"
Guyana Regina, cleaning one of the bathrooms at the Hoima Regional Referral Hospital's COVID-19 isolation unit. For her to continue doing her job, she undertook training on self preventive measures including how to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) effectively.
At Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Samuel Mukisa has been working at the gate from 4 April 2020. His main role at the hospital was to ensure everyone who entered the facility followed the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) like wearing a mask. Mukisa says that, it has been quite a tough time for him as many people who want to access the hospital services are stubborn and do not want to abide to the guidelines, therefore, this led him to being tough and rude and so many people disliked him for that.
Dr Moses Muwanga, the director at Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital engaging with his phone in his office while on a break. When the hospital was asked to receive 70 COVID-19 patients, Dr Muwanga did not panic as expected because he has been handling outbreaks in the country for many years since the hospital is located near the airport.
"For Uganda as a country, everything about Covid was new. From how to build the facility, how to organise it and treat the patients. On top of which welfare of the patients and the staff who we had to settle in as they were not allowed to return home for fear of spreading the virus to others. As a hospital, we decided to look at ourselves as a whole system where every player was vital. Our goal as a team was to stay safe and alive in order to save lives of others"
"The biggest challenge we got was from the first expectant mother we had who had picked the virus from her husband. We had to set up up a protocol of reproductive service for an expectant COVID-19 positive patient. With this, we had to rehearse for hours"
Bwire Fredrick (38), an assistant house keeper of Hoima Hospital's Covid isolation unit, cleaning the balcony after laundry. Bwire had the responsibility of cleaning patients linen and clothes when they have been discharged from the unit.
"When the first patient was brought here, some of us had to volunteer in this tough time. It hasn't really been easy because we have to clean and wash most of the linen manually with our hands, and which was quite risky. Most outstanding moment for me was when a mother delivered from here"
"When the ministry asked us to prepare the hospital to receive a COVID-19 patient, some colleagues and I switched from our usual roles. I was working as a nurse but now I station at the entrance to check and record body temperature of everyone that comes to the hospital. It has been a challenge doing this, because people who are coming in are very many but we try to work in shifts"
Tumwesigye Erastu (32), a dobbi at Hoima Regional Hospital's Covid isolation having a moment with himself in his work room.
"I miss my family, I miss home, I wish I could take leave at least tomorrow"
Volunteer medical workers at Entebbe General Hospital receiving training on how to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while managing COVID-19 patients. Due to fear of catching the disease, many workers at the hospital withdrew from operating during this period and the management embarked on training volunteers to have more staff support.
Godfrey Miiro is a trained ambulance driver with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
"I have encountered many COVID-19 patients and you really have to be patient, prepare yourself and stay safe. I haven't been going back home in a while and I miss my people but I have to play my part, Its only been one year surviving for KCCA"
Godfrey Miiro, KCCA ambulance driver for the COVID-19 Taskforce, getting sprayed by his colleague, who is the nurse in the ambulance. Whenever they return from the field, they are meant to spray themselves and wash their vehicle incase it has attracted the virus.
Professor Pontiano Kaleebu. Executive Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, wearing his lab court in preparation for a workday.
Stuart Tibaweswa
Kampala-based Ugandan documentary photographer, whose work often focuses on marginalised communities and their relationship to wider society.