NRM@34: Uganda’s Disease Control Preparedness Recognised Globally

In 2000, Uganda experienced the worst Ebola epidemic. More than 425 people contracted the disease mainly in Northern Uganda and half of them died.

Since that outbreak, Uganda has experienced more than five Ebola outbreaks and other epidemics like Cholera, Marburg, Crimean Congo, Yellow Fever but none of them has had a stronger impact.

This can be linked of the readiness and preparedness that the Ministry of Health under the ruling the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has since implemented to deal with such outbreaks.

In January 2019, the Democratic Republican of Congo experienced the worst Ebola outbreak that has been recurrent.  Over 3000 have so far died.

Through the months Uganda, which has multiple entry points to DRC has been on standby. Indeed, when an Ebola case was confirmed in Uganda in August last year, the health ministry and its partners was able to contain and neutralize it in a matter of weeks.

While on a visit to Uganda, the World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Uganda for its preparedness in the fight against Ebola

“Uganda’s Disease outbreak control system is recognized globally for its effectiveness. I commend the government of Uganda for the support rendered towards vaccination of citizens in effected areas,” he said while meeting a team led by the Prime Minister of Uganda Ruhakana Rugunda at the OPM’s office in January 2019

He further commended Uganda for the support rendered to the Republic of Congo in fight against Ebola through capacity building in infectious disease control, cross border screening and surveillance.

Some of the activities that the Ministry of Health has continuously employed to control disease outbreaks include vaccination of front line health workers, screening of travellers at entry points, Early risk communication and community engagement and enhanced surveillance including community based disease surveillance and cross border surveillance

The other activities include fast collection and testing of blood samples from alert cases, capacity building on case management, psychosocial care and dignified burial of deceased victims.