Health experts in Kisoro district have said the risk of contracting the Ebola Hemorrhagic fever (EVD) from people crossing back and forth into Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, at the Bunagana border, is minimal.
At least 21 districts in Uganda bordering with the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been urged to heighten their alert, following another Ebola Outbreak.
The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, earlier this month, announced that a new laboratory-confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) had been detected in Beni health zone in the province of North Kivu.
Nick Muneza, the head of disease surveillance in Kisoro district says, the risk of contracting Ebola from people crossing back and forth at Bunagana border is very minimal.
According to Muneza, most people crossing into Eastern DR. Congo are only going as far as Karambo, mostly to fetch water and gather some food.
He also explained that the possibility of the Congolese Government forces coming to regain captured territory from the rebel group M23 is eminent and this could have tragic consequences on frontline health workers.
“We have the manpower to deploy at Bunagana border however we have been advised by security not to expose the health workers to an unnecessary harm that can result from renewed fighting between Congo Government forces and the rebels at Bunagana”, Muneza explained.
Screening of Ebola alongside that of Covid-19 is on-going at Cyanika border with Rwanda and at the Nyakabande Transit and Holding center.
Nyakabande HC II is receiving support from Medical Teams International (MTI) and Medicin san Frontiers, to support screening of Congolese Asylum seekers who have been fleeing to Uganda since March 28th 2022.
Close sources at Busanza HC IV say screening for Ebola has not yet begun.
According to the source who preferred anonymity, equipment meant to assist health workers screen at Mupaka border is at the district headquarters and has not yet been delivered to the health facility.
Kisoro District Health Officer Dr. Steven Nsabiyumva says no positive case of EVD has been reported among the population.
Dr. Nsabiyumva further called on the communities to be vigilant of their personal health by observing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that include hand washing with soap, avoiding handshakes and hugging as well as observing social distance.
The last time Kisoro district was on raised alert for an Ebola outbreak was back in 2019. No positive cases were confirmed then.
Bunagana town clerk Emmanuel Mbonye says, health experts could be missing the point by not increasing surveillance in Bunagana.
According to Mbonye, Bunagana is not only a hotspot for sanitary diseases in the population due to the large presence of Congolese living in the open spaces but a resurgence of Ebola in neighboring DRC could be so dangerous.
Mbonye commended the health department and other stakeholders who have done all things, humanly possible to support the Bunagana community, however a lot more needs to be done, to avert a pending crisis.
Discussion about this post