Uganda News

Entebbe, 26th November 2018:- The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) has been certified to perform yellow fever regional reference lab functions in the Arbovirology department that supports yellow fever diagnostic surveillance. This makes UVRI the only certified Yellow fever reference laboratory in Eastern Africa and the second in the African Region, the other being Institut Pasteur Dakar (IPD) in Senegal.

Fort Portal, 22nd November 2018:- As the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) escalates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) closer to the Uganda border, there is a detectable sense of urgency exhibited in the heightened implementation of preparatory activities especially in the high-risk districts bordering DRC. 

Mukono, 14th November 2018- One of the severe yet often neglected consequences of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is long-term mental health and psychosocial problems that affect health workers, family members, recovered patients and generally people involved in response activities.

Kasese, 13th November 2018:- As the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak escalates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda is ticking all the boxes to ensure that the country is able to respond effectively should there be a confirmed case of Ebola in the country. As of 13th November 2018, there were 295 confirmed cases with 209 death and still counting.

Kampala, 7th November 2018:- The Ministry of Health (MoH) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) has started vaccinating frontline health workers against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The exercise has begun today in Ntoroko district and will initially be implemented in the five high-risk districts bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Kampala, 3 November 2018:- Uganda has finalized plans to vaccinate frontline health workers in Uganda against Ebola virus-Zaire which is currently affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the Ministry of health, vaccination will start as soon next week in the high-risk districts bordering DRC.

Kampala, 2 November 2018:- The Ministry of Health convened a two day Joint Review Mission (JRM) conference to review and discuss the performance of the health sector for the Financial Year (FY) 2017/2018 which began from July 2017 to June 2018.

Mukono, 29 October 2018:- The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Ministry of Health to train health workers in Uganda’s armed forces on surveillance and clinical management of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Kampala, 26 October 2018:- The Prime Minister of Uganda the Right Honorable Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has praised the World Health Organization (WHO) for its timely and effective efforts that have so far protected the country from importing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that is currently affecting some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) near the border with Uganda.

Kampala, 23 October 2018:- There is an urgent need for countries to strengthen regional and national capacity in the areas of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) given the ever increasing number of infectious disease outbreaks in many parts of the world.

This need was emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO) at a three-day workshop currently going in Munyonyo, Kampala hosted by the organization’s Tackling Deadly Disease in Africa Program (TDDAP) supported by UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).