The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, on Monday, October 17, 2022 commissioned Madudu Isolation facility in Mubende district to begin admitting suspect cases of Ebola.
“During our community engagement activity in Mubende District, we took off time to tour the third and biggest Isolation facility being constructed at district works ground. I must appreciate WHO, MSF, UNICEF, CDC and all other partners for this investment,” said Dr Aceng.
The new Isolation facility will have 24 self-contained rooms for suspects and 16 self-contained rooms for treating confirmed cases.
She said eight of these will have Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
“Provision has been made for relatives to see loved ones from a distance and even talk. Together, we can end this epidemic”
Dr Aceng used the opportunity to engage the community of Kiruma Sub County and listen to their issues and respond to them.
“I want to thank them for their commitment and determination to end the epidemic. Epidemics start and end in communities. Go Kiruma go,” she said.
On the same day, members of the strategic committee including Ministry of Health and partners (WHO, UNICEF, CDC) visited Kassanda district and engaged the district task force to understand how the response to Ebola Epidemic is progressing.
“Thereafter we travelled to Bweyongede village in Kalwana Sub County where all the cases have come from to sensitize the communities and respond to their issues of concern. Together we can save lives and end the Epidemic,” said Aceng.
While addressing the community, Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Uganda, said as in any outbreak response, community awareness is essential.
“We hope that the dialogue with the Bweyongede community today will strengthen their engagement in the Ebola response in Uganda.”
He said WHO has since the beginning of this response mobilized resources to support this pillar.
“We have seen a very strong community mobilization in the districts of Mubende and Kasanga, currently under lockdown. Community leaders assured us of their commitment to observe public health measures and to report any suspected cases in order to eradicate the Ebola outbreak,” he added.
Health ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine said the visit to Kassanda and Mubende districts was meant to review measures in place for Ebola response.
“We are confident that with the current measures we will soon get to the bottom of this,” she noted.
Meanwhile, WHO has been strengthening the capacities of 15 healthcare workers on Ebola case management in Kyegegwa district.
Activities include; screening and triage, isolation of suspected cases, hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment when caring for ebola patients.
Speaking at World Health Summit 2022 being held in Berlin, Germany, Dr. Misaki Wayengera, the chair of the Ministerial Scientific advisory Committee, explained that using digital tools Uganda was able to monitor the movement of cross-border truck drivers to control the COVID-19 Pandemic.
He also highlighted that the COVID-19 digital certificates which have been introduced in the vaccination process as a way of reducing the involvement of paper.
The engagement was held at a side event hosted by PATH under the theme “Digital public goods for health: Meeting demand for digital health with an ecosystem of choice”.
