The Ugandan government has announced plans to send 80 health workers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and set up two temporary clinics to help contain the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.
According to the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine, the deployment is expected to take place this week if all preparations are completed as scheduled.
Dr Atwine said the team will include doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists and critical care experts. She noted that part of the group will be drawn from Uganda’s emergency response unit, which is routinely activated during disease outbreaks.
In addition to deploying medical personnel, Uganda plans to establish two mobile laboratories as well as isolation and treatment centres in the affected areas of eastern DRC. The facilities are intended to strengthen testing and patient care while supporting efforts to curb the spread of the disease.
Dr Atwine explained that Uganda’s decision is also aimed at reducing the number of patients crossing the border in search of medical treatment, a situation that could increase pressure on the country’s health system.
“Due to our proximity to the Ebola epicentre, we believe that we will not be able to stop the inflow of patients because they are looking for care in Uganda,” she said.
She also explained that this approach will help both countries and the wider region bring the Ebola outbreak under control faster while reducing the economic impact on both nations.
Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed Ebola cases to date, with 14 linked to infections imported from the DRC and five arising from local transmission.
