By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Christian BulletinThe Christian Bulletin
Notification Show More
Latest News
THE TRUTH! Why Pope Francis is visiting DR Congo & South Sudan in 6-day trip
News Politics
Spiritual Hunger Will Make You A Leader In Your Dispensation – Apostle Grace Lubega
Sermons
Min. Ogwang rally raises shs150m for SACCOs
News
KIGALI REVIVAL CONFERENCE: Phaneroo organises transportation, here’s how to register
News
NGO behind Kasese unpopular homo by-law on the spot for unfairly influencing council to pass legislation
News
Aa
  • Home
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Commentary
  • Testimonies
  • Portrait/Interview
  • Environment
  • About Us
  • Contact
Search
Reading: “Everybody has heard how it kills”: Uganda’s veteran health system ramps up its Ebola response
Share
Aa
The Christian BulletinThe Christian Bulletin
  • Home
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Commentary
  • Testimonies
  • Portrait/Interview
  • Environment
  • About Us
  • Contact
Search
  • Home
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Commentary
  • Testimonies
  • Portrait/Interview
  • Environment
  • About Us
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
The Christian Bulletin > Blog > Health > “Everybody has heard how it kills”: Uganda’s veteran health system ramps up its Ebola response
Health

“Everybody has heard how it kills”: Uganda’s veteran health system ramps up its Ebola response

admin2
Last updated: 2022/10/30 at 12:49 PM
admin2 Published October 30, 2022
Share
Dr Jane Aceng, Minister of Health, discharging the first patients to recover from the Sudan Ebolavirus in Uganda. Credit: Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Ugandan Ministry of Health
SHARE

Dr Diana Atwine had just sat down at her desk in Uganda’s Ministry of Health on 19 September when she received a phone call. Blood samples her office had sent to the country’s virus research institute in Entebbe were positive for a rare type of Ebola, the so-called Sudan strain.

Contents
Community-level containmentAdding to the arsenal

A jolt of fear ran through Dr Atwine.

Having served as the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary – its most senior non-political figure – since 2016, Dr Atwine was well aware of Uganda’s impressive record in handling outbreaks of the viral haemorrhagic fever.

Most recently in 2019, a family infected with the ‘Zaire’ strain of Ebola had travelled to Uganda from epidemic-hit DRC. Uganda’s response had been quick and competent: by isolating the cases and their contacts, and ring-vaccinating to contain potential spread, in-country transmission was snuffed out before it had a chance to get going.

But she also knew that this time, they were down one crucial tool: the Sudan ebolavirus currently has no available vaccine. Dr Atwine grabbed a notebook and began making phone calls.

The same day, a rapid response team was dispatched by her ministry to collect information and personal details from suspected cases – people who might have come in contact with patient zero, a young man from Mubende district, about 135km west of the capital, Kampala.

The team was also tasked with setting up Ebola isolation and treatment units in the area, isolating exposed individuals and monitoring them for symptoms.

But the virus had already spread.

Verbal autopsies indicated that six people from the Mubende man’s family – three adults and three children – had died of the virus between 11 and 15 September in the two sub-counties of Madudu and Kiruma.

As of 26 October, more than 109 people in Uganda have contracted the virus while 30 have died. The virus has also been confirmed in five districts in Uganda, including, alarmingly, in the busy, well-connected capital.

“We have to be very effective to stop this virus,” Dr Atwine told VaccinesWork.

Community-level containment

The rapid spread of the deadly virus has worried local leaders and a community that is still struggling to recover from the effects of COVID-19.

“We are afraid of the disease. Everybody has heard how it kills,” says Justus Mucunguzi, a trader in Kampala. “But we are also afraid government might impose another lockdown in Kampala (if cases continue to rise), when people don’t have food to eat.” Government has already imposed limited lockdowns in Mubende and Kassanda districts, the two epicentres.

Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, minister of health in Uganda giving a discharge certificate to one of the health workers after he healed from Ebola at Entebbe Isolation facility. 10 health workers have contracted the Sudan Ebolavirus while only five have survived. Credit: Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Ugandan Ministry of Health
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, minister of health in Uganda giving a discharge certificate to one of the health workers after he healed from Ebola at Entebbe Isolation facility. 10 health workers have contracted the Sudan Ebolavirus while only five have survived.
Credit: Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Ugandan Ministry of Health

The outbreak response – rapid case detection, isolation of contacts, and treatment for the sick – has been aggressive, and the pace is only ramping up. Working with the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization, Uganda’s Ministry of Health is training teams in contact tracing, health workers in case management, and laboratory scientists in improving surveillance.

It is also training teams to bury the dead safely, is educating communities and mobilising volunteers, especially people who have previously worked on Ebola case management.

“The biggest challenge was that the community (in Madudu and Kiruma sub-counties) delayed in reporting cases to health facilities when people started to show Ebola-like symptoms,” says Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health. “Instead of coming to health facilities, they attributed the illnesses to witchcraft.”

At the Ebola isolation and treatment centres set up by the Ministry at the Mubende Regional Referral Hospital and in Kassanda and Entebbe districts, exposed individuals are isolated, tested and then watched for a period of 21 days – the virus’s incubation period. As of 25 October, the teams were monitoring more than 1,800 people.

Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, director of public health at Uganda’s Ministry of Health. Credit: Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Ugandan Ministry of Health
Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, director of public health at Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
Credit: Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Ugandan Ministry of Health

Those who develop symptoms and test positive for the virus are contained in separate units, and started on supportive treatment. Dr Kyabayinze says that the US has provided Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir and Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc’s trial Ebola antibody drug to help control the virus.

Mubende and Kassanda districts, meanwhile, remain under dusk-to-dawn lockdown. Speaking at a press briefing, Dr Ahmed Ogwell, acting director of Africa CDC, said that the lockdowns are time limited for 21 days so that “we can contain spread (of the virus). After the 21 days the situation can be assessed again.

“It is not one of those tools that we like, but it is necessary if a threshold has been reached,” he added.

Adding to the arsenal

The Ministry of Health is working with neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to step up surveillance of the virus. It is also working with the WHO to test candidate vaccines for the Sudan Ebolavirus. The most promising is a single-dose ChAd3 Ebola Sudan Vaccine being developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the US.

Emmanuel Ainebyoona, senior public relations officer at the health ministry, says that they are ready to start the vaccine trials as soon as they receive the doses.

“We are doing all we can to stop the virus,” said Dr Kyabayinze. “We are urging the communities to follow the processes we have shared, especially in terms of isolating when they develop symptoms. If they trust in the doctors, we shall contain this virus.”

gavi.org

You Might Also Like

OFFICIAL! World Health Organisation declares Uganda ebola-free

Swedish Envoy lauds Aceng leadership at MoH as Uganda is declared ebola-free

“A good job done!” Aceng says as Health Ministry prepares to declare Uganda ebola-free

Alupo lauds medical evangelism as 2nd eldest missionary hospital marks 100 years

TAGGED: Dr Diana Atwine, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Ministry of Health Uganda
admin2 October 30, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

MTN 2022 Marathon targets improving Maternal Health

MTN Uganda together with its partners Huawei, Stanbic Bank, New Vision, Rwenzori, NBS TV and KCCA – the host city,…

admin2 admin2 October 22, 2022
Politics

Museveni Commissions Dei Bio Pharma Pharmaceuticals

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni on Friday, commissioned the Dei Bio Pharma Pharmaceuticals plant. During the function, Museveni praised the proprietor…

admin2 admin2 October 22, 2022
News

Pope Francis fuels rumours he may quit in sermon reflecting on ‘the virtue of stepping aside at the right time’ and ‘learning to take our leave’

In an address on Sunday, Pope Francis added to growing rumours he might abdicate from the position with a sermon on the…

admin2 admin2 January 17, 2023

Pope Francis reiterates: Marriage is lifelong union between a man and woman

admin2 admin2 January 28, 2023

Phaneroo’s Apostle Grace Lubega To Speak At Parliament Breakfast Fellowship

admin2 admin2 November 8, 2022
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Popular

  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Commentary
  • Testimonies
  • Portrait/Interview
  • Environment

About US

The Christian Bulletin is a Christian news blog dedicated to providing breaking news, updates with a Christian perspective. We give hope by testifying of God's goodness.
Quick Link
  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deals
  • Complaints

Socialise Here

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Partner with Us

  • Be part of The Christian Bulletin.
    Share news tips by getting in touch here
  • For any Inquiries, contact us on +256 774552385
  • Email: info@christianbulletin.co.ug

© The Christian Bulletin. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Webfrontiers Uganda Limited

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?