1. Uganda’s experience in Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018–2019
- Author
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Jackson Amone, Bernard T. Opar, Stephen Balinandi, Innocent Komakech, Vance Brown, Victoria Kajja, Julius J. Lutwama, Josephine Bwogi, Simon N. Antara, Allan Muruta, Isabelle Amoros, Doreen Nsiimire Gonahasa, Benjamin Sensasi, Celine H. Taboy, Deo Birungi Ndumu, Joshua Kayiwa, Harriet Akello, Rebecca D. Merrill, Sophia Mulei, Hafisa Kasule, Rita Nalwadda, Judith Nanyondo, Luke Nyakarahuka, Patrick Tusiime, Andrew Kambugu, Dan F. Stowell, Wilberforce Owembabazi, Bernard Lubwama, Godfrey Nsereko, Issa Makumbi, Ben Masiira, Trevor Shoemaker, Atek Kagirita, Olive Sentumbwe, Hasifa Bukirwa, Michael Kibuule, Henry Bosa Kyobe, Carol Nanziri, Daniel Kadobera, David K. Mutengeki, Richard Walwema, Mugagga Kaggwa, Vivian N. Serwanjja, Isabel Sorela, Paul Mbaka, Joe C. Opio, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Mohammed Lamorde, Bao-Ping Zhu, Eldard Mabumba, Joseph Ngobi Mwoga, Jayne B. Tusiime, Sarah Ward, Juliet Namugga Kasule, Richard Okwi, Flora Banage, David Muwanguzi, Immaculate Nabukenya, Benon Kwesiga, Vivian Ntono, George D. Upenytho, Solome Okware, Jackson Kyondo, Chrisostom Ayebazibwe, Martin O. Oteba, Oleh Masylukov, Moses Mwanja, Alex Tumusiime, Christine Kihembo, James Eyul, Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, Bayo Fatunmbi, Alfred Driwale, Jaco Homsy, Tabley Bakyaita, Chima Ohuabunwo, Miriam Lwanga, David Matseketse, Rosalind J Carter, Charles Olaro, Lydia Nakiire, Musa Sekamatte, Julie R. Harris, Nulu Bulya, Edson Katushabe, Sandra Nabatanzi, Julius Kasozi, Pontiano Kaleebu, Anne Nakinsige, Alex Riolexus Ario, Peter B. Ahabwe, Thomas Nsibambi, William Z. Lali, Simon Kyazze, John D. Klena, Josephine Okwera, Bodo Bongomin, Denis Kyabaggu, Fred Sebisubi, Susan Nabadda, Lisa J. Nelson, Jane Ruth Aceng, Fred Monje, Ambrose Talisuna, Viorica Berdaga, Charles Katureebe, Jude Okiria, Lilian Bulage, Morries Seru, Collins Mwesigye, Joseph Ojwang, Gregory Adams, Edmund Mwebembezi, Miriam Nanyunja, Henry Mwebesa, Allan M. Mpairwe, Paul B. Okot, Felix Ocom, Andrew Bakainaga, Peter Oumo, Basnet S. Mukunda, Robinah Lukwago, Derrick Mimbe, Dativa Maria Aliddeki, Milton Makoba Wetaka, Juliet Sentumbwe, and Richard Kabanda
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Isolation (health care) ,World Health Organization ,medicine.disease_cause ,Disease Outbreaks ,Epidemic preparedness ,Procurement ,medicine ,Humans ,Uganda ,Rapid response team ,Social policy ,Ebola virus ,lcsh:Public aspects of medicine ,Research ,Health Policy ,Public health ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Health services research ,Civil Defense ,lcsh:RA1-1270 ,Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ,medicine.disease ,Preparedness ,Ebola ,Viral Haemorrhagic fever ,Public Health ,Global Health security ,Business ,Medical emergency - Abstract
Background Since the declaration of the 10th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in DRC on 1st Aug 2018, several neighboring countries have been developing and implementing preparedness efforts to prevent EVD cross-border transmission to enable timely detection, investigation, and response in the event of a confirmed EVD outbreak in the country. We describe Uganda’s experience in EVD preparedness. Results On 4 August 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) and the National Task Force (NTF) for public health emergencies to plan, guide, and coordinate EVD preparedness in the country. The NTF selected an Incident Management Team (IMT), constituting a National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) that supported activation of the District Task Forces (DTFs) and District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) that jointly assessed levels of preparedness in 30 designated high-risk districts representing category 1 (20 districts) and category 2 (10 districts). The MoH, with technical guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), led EVD preparedness activities and worked together with other ministries and partner organisations to enhance community-based surveillance systems, develop and disseminate risk communication messages, engage communities, reinforce EVD screening and infection prevention measures at Points of Entry (PoEs) and in high-risk health facilities, construct and equip EVD isolation and treatment units, and establish coordination and procurement mechanisms. Conclusion As of 31 May 2019, there was no confirmed case of EVD as Uganda has continued to make significant and verifiable progress in EVD preparedness. There is a need to sustain these efforts, not only in EVD preparedness but also across the entire spectrum of a multi-hazard framework. These efforts strengthen country capacity and compel the country to avail resources for preparedness and management of incidents at the source while effectively cutting costs of using a “fire-fighting” approach during public health emergencies.
- Published
- 2020
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