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. 2020 Mar 19;16(1):24.
doi: 10.1186/s12992-020-00548-5.

Uganda's experience in Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018-2019

Jane Ruth Aceng  1 , Alex R Ario  2   3 , Allan N Muruta  1 , Issa Makumbi  1   4 , Miriam Nanyunja  5 , Innocent Komakech  5 , Andrew N Bakainaga  5 , Ambrose O Talisuna  6 , Collins Mwesigye  5 , Allan M Mpairwe  5 , Jayne B Tusiime  5 , William Z Lali  5 , Edson Katushabe  5 , Felix Ocom  5 , Mugagga Kaggwa  5 , Bodo Bongomin  5 , Hafisa Kasule  5 , Joseph N Mwoga  5 , Benjamin Sensasi  5 , Edmund Mwebembezi  5 , Charles Katureebe  5 , Olive Sentumbwe  5 , Rita Nalwadda  5 , Paul Mbaka  5 , Bayo S Fatunmbi  7 , Lydia Nakiire  8 , Mohammed Lamorde  8 , Richard Walwema  8 , Andrew Kambugu  8 , Judith Nanyondo  8 , Solome Okware  1   8 , Peter B Ahabwe  8 , Immaculate Nabukenya  1   8 , Joshua Kayiwa  4 , Milton M Wetaka  4 , Simon Kyazze  4 , Benon Kwesiga  9 , Daniel Kadobera  9 , Lilian Bulage  9   10 , Carol Nanziri  9 , Fred Monje  9 , Dativa M Aliddeki  9 , Vivian Ntono  9 , Doreen Gonahasa  9 , Sandra Nabatanzi  9 , Godfrey Nsereko  9 , Anne Nakinsige  1 , Eldard Mabumba  1 , Bernard Lubwama  1 , Musa Sekamatte  1 , Michael Kibuule  1 , David Muwanguzi  1 , Jackson Amone  1 , George D Upenytho  1 , Alfred Driwale  1 , Morries Seru  1 , Fred Sebisubi  1 , Harriet Akello  1   11 , Richard Kabanda  1 , David K Mutengeki  1 , Tabley Bakyaita  1 , Vivian N Serwanjja  1 , Richard Okwi  1 , Jude Okiria  1 , Emmanuel Ainebyoona  1 , Bernard T Opar  1 , Derrick Mimbe  12 , Denis Kyabaggu  13 , Chrisostom Ayebazibwe  14 , Juliet Sentumbwe  14 , Moses Mwanja  14 , Deo B Ndumu  14 , Josephine Bwogi  15 , Stephen Balinandi  15 , Luke Nyakarahuka  15 , Alex Tumusiime  15 , Jackson Kyondo  15 , Sophia Mulei  15 , Julius Lutwama  15 , Pontiano Kaleebu  15 , Atek Kagirita  16 , Susan Nabadda  16 , Peter Oumo  17 , Robinah Lukwago  18 , Julius Kasozi  19 , Oleh Masylukov  20 , Henry Bosa Kyobe  21 , Viorica Berdaga  22 , Miriam Lwanga  22 , Joe C Opio  22 , David Matseketse  22 , James Eyul  23 , Martin O Oteba  11 , Hasifa Bukirwa  10 , Nulu Bulya  10 , Ben Masiira  10 , Christine Kihembo  10 , Chima Ohuabunwo  10 , Simon N Antara  10 , Wilberforce Owembabazi  24 , Paul B Okot  25 , Josephine Okwera  25 , Isabelle Amoros  26 , Victoria Kajja  27 , Basnet S Mukunda  27 , Isabel Sorela  27 , Gregory Adams  24 , Trevor Shoemaker  28 , John D Klena  28 , Celine H Taboy  28 , Sarah E Ward  29 , Rebecca D Merrill  29 , Rosalind J Carter  30 , Julie R Harris  31 , Flora Banage  31 , Thomas Nsibambi  31 , Joseph Ojwang  31 , Juliet N Kasule  31 , Dan F Stowell  31 , Vance R Brown  31 , Bao-Ping Zhu  31 , Jaco Homsy  31 , Lisa J Nelson  31 , Patrick K Tusiime  1 , Charles Olaro  1 , Henry G Mwebesa  1 , Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam  5
Affiliations

Uganda's experience in Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness, 2018-2019

Jane Ruth Aceng et al. Global Health. .

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.

Keywords: Disease outbreaks; Ebola; Epidemic preparedness; Global Health security; Uganda; Viral Haemorrhagic fever.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Showing the National Task Force and relationship to its subcommittees, District Task Forces and Rapid Response Teams
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
National Budget and Financial Contribution to EVD preparedness by Implementing Partner
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Financial Contribution to EVD preparedness by Donor
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Geographical distribution of the 30 EVD high-risk districts of Uganda, 2018
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Map showing locations of verified EVD alerts in Uganda, March 2019
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Number of health workers vaccinated in 13 high risk districts of Uganda, April 2019
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola Virus Disease - External Situation Report 5 [Internet]. ReliefWeb. [cited 2018 Sep 8]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/democratic-republ....
    1. Ebola Virus: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention [Internet]. WebMD. [cited 2018 Sep 8]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ebola-fever-virus-infection.
    1. Signs and Symptoms | Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever | CDC [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2018 Sep 8]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/symptoms/index.html.
    1. Ebola vaccine to help tackle DRC outbreak [Internet]. [cited 2018 Sep 8]. Available from: https://www.gavi.org/library/news/statements/2018/ebola-vaccine-to-help-....

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