By Hanning Mbabazi
Buliisa: Buliisa District which shares porous borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC have received an Ebola Isolation Treatment Unit in a bid to support the Ebola response preparedness.
The donation from Total E&P on Thursday 08 August 2019 followed an outbreak of the virus in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with which the district encounters a number of cross border interaction.
The medical equipments donated include, Thermometers, JIK/ Chlorine, Gum boots, Aprons, protective goggles, tents, Hospital beds, mattresses, 1000 litter water tank, sprayer and stretchers.
The donation was received by Asiimwe Amos the Resident District Commissioner Buliisa, Agaba Kinene Simon the LC5 and Chrizestom Kayise the Chief Administrative Officer among other leaders.
The RDC cautioned health officials in the district to put the equipment to proper use in order to avert a possible outbreak of Ebola in the area.
According to Buliisa District Ebola Prevention Focal Person Robert Mugabi, the District receives and screens over 7,000 DRC nationals who cross to the District on a monthly basis. He is optimistic that the donation will boost their operations adding that, prior to the establishment of the facility, they dreaded a possible outbreak of Ebola in the area.
Mugabi said that 16,000 households were screened for Ebola over the last one month in Buliisa district. He says they have trained health workers who include doctors, clinicians and Environmental Health officers in Ebola case Management and surveillance network.
Mugabi added that they still face a challenges of DRC nationals entering the
district through the illegal entry points that makes it difficult for them to
trace them for screening before they mix freely with the public.
Buliisa LCV Chairperson Simon Agaba Kinene applauded Total E&P for the
donation saying the district is now empowered to respond to any Ebola related
cases.
Total E&P Uganda public relations coordinator, Christopher Ocowun said, as the part of the company’s health and safety community initiatives, they are made a donation comprising assortment of medical supplies in order to reinforce the efforts of the district local government to combat potential outbreak of the epidemic in the district.
Ocuwun said, the fight against the spread of Ebola virus is a collective effort a socially responsible company we encourage more partners to come in and aid the government of Uganda as well as Buliisa district local government’s effort to impede the spread of deadly virus.
According to the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, two of the victims eventually died and were buried in Kasese while the third victim, who, was repatriated to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for further therapeutic management, died before he could reach Beni where the Ebola Treatment Centre is located.
The early symptoms of Ebola are sudden and can include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. However, when the virus multiplies in the body, the patient might start passing out blood in the stool and cough blood as well.
