Uganda mpox, Ebola emergency response boosted with sh14b

____________________

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through its Regional Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PREPARE) project, has committed $4 million (about shillings 14.4 billion) to enhance Uganda’s emergency response efforts against the mpox and Ebola outbreaks.

This financial commitment forms part of an overall $8.3 million (approximately shillings 31 billion) allocated to assist IGAD member states in addressing the ongoing mpox crisis, bolstering the capacity of these nations to respond to current and future outbreaks of similar diseases.

According to Mubarak Mabuya, IGAD’s chief of staff, the funding is designed to address national health gaps and target priority areas critical for managing outbreaks.

These include strengthening surveillance systems, improving laboratory capacities, supporting workforce development, and facilitating joint resource mobilisation aligned with the emerging needs of Uganda’s government.

“The funding aims to scale up emergency response support in alignment with national priorities and identified gaps, such as surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce development, and resource mobilization,” Mabuya stated.

He was speaking during the fund announcement at the health ministry headquarters in Kampala city, where the event was attended by Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, and other senior health ministry officials last week.

Global co-operation 

The IGAD PREPARE project is primarily funded by the Pandemic Fund of the World Bank, through the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Its initial phase aims to address the spread of mpox in Uganda, with a focus on limiting its transmission and preventing further deaths from the virus.

The initiative will also contribute to protecting IGAD citizens and the global community, whose interconnectedness through cross-border movement, international trade, and travel increases the risk of wider outbreaks.

“Due to the escalating cases of Ebola in Uganda, the project will also address the ongoing Ebola outbreak,” Mabuya added. He highlighted the rapid transmission of the virus in Uganda and neighbouring countries, stressing the importance of such measures in safeguarding both regional and global health.

Ministry of health commends IGAD

Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng expressed gratitude for IGAD’s unwavering support, particularly in addressing cross-border health issues and refugee care.

She said Uganda currently hosts more than 1.8 million refugees, which underscores the importance of such collaboration.

“IGAD has been instrumental in supporting Uganda, particularly on cross-border health issues and refugee care," Aceng said. 

“We sincerely appreciate IGAD’s timely and flexible response, which strengthens Uganda’s efforts in combating both mpox and Ebola. Their ongoing support is invaluable to our health sector.”

She further commended IGAD’s proactive commitment to pandemic preparedness and response, emphasizing the critical role the organisation plays in the region’s health security.

WHO’s support

Kasonde Mwinga, the WHO representative to Uganda, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s fight against the mpox and Ebola outbreaks.

Mwinga emphasized WHO’s dedication to providing technical guidance and ensuring the success of the ongoing efforts through monitoring and evaluation.

“WHO is committed to providing technical guidance and supporting the monitoring and evaluation of this initiative to ensure its effectiveness,” Mwinga stated. “We believe it is crucial to strengthen resilience in Uganda’s health systems and avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts. We stand ready to collaborate, ensuring Uganda’s emergency response to Mpox and Ebola is both strategic and impactful,” she noted.

Mpox burden in Uganda

Uganda confirmed the first cases of mpox on July 24, 2024 following the confirmation of two cases in Bwera Hospital (Kasese) by the Uganda Virus Research Institute through a routine surveillance system.

 These two cases were detected among six case-patients with symptoms consistent with the Mpox. To date, the cumulative number of confirmed Mpox cases in Uganda has risen to 2,949, according to the national Mpox situation report, while cumulative deaths now total to 19 deaths, with case fatality rate at 0.64 per cent.

The disease has continued to spread across the country covering 84 districts, the hardest hit being Kampala, Luwero, Mbarara, Mukono, Nakasongola and Wakiso.

How mpox spreads

A zoonotic viral disease, mpox is transmitted from animals to human beings through handling or consuming infected animals, such as squirrels, rats, mice or monkeys.

According to Dr Henry Bosa Kyobe, the incident commander mpox at the ministry, it can also be spread from one infected human being to another through direct physical contact with an infected person.

Infected pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers can pass on the virus to their unborn babies.

Aceng urged the public to exercise responsibility, saying “Please remember the basics: Wash hands, do not share clothings, and avoid irresponsible sexual activity.”

Ebola situation

Uganda has reported a total of nine confirmed Ebola cases, with an additional 265 individuals being monitored in quarantine.

The first victim of the outbreak, a male nurse, passed away just a day before the outbreak was officially declared on January 30.

However, the health ministry confirmed that the remaining eight patients are receiving medical care and are in stable condition.

In addition to Uganda, other countries in the region are also grappling with the disease. Mabuya noted that both Kenya and Tanzania have registered cases, and IGAD is preparing to extend its support to these nations as well.

How Ebola is Spread

Ebola is a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.

According to the outlines from the Ministry of Health, the primary modes of transmission include human-to-human transmission which occurs through direct contact with blood, saliva, vomit, urine, faeces, sweat, semen, or other bodily fluids of an infected person.

This includes contact with objects contaminated with these fluids, such as needles or medical equipment.

The other includes animal-to-human transmission which means that humans can contract Ebola through contact with infected animals, including wild animals like fruit bats, monkeys, and apes. In addition, handling or consuming bushmeat from these animals poses a significant risk.

Lastly, post-mortem transmission is the other primary modes of transmission that happens through handling the bodies of deceased individuals who died from Ebola, especially during traditional burial ceremonies, can lead to transmission if proper protective measures are not followed.

The incubation period for Ebola ranges from 2 to 21 days, typically between 7 to 11 days. Individuals are not contagious until they develop symptoms, which can include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding.

To prevent the spread of Ebola, the Ministry of Health recommends avoiding contact, including refraining from touching individuals who are sick or have died from Ebola.

The other recommendation is safe burial practices by ensuring that burial ceremonies are conducted safely, with proper protective equipment and adherence to health guidelines. Others include proper hygiene, safe handling of animals and use of protective equipment.

WHO support to Uganda

The World Health Organization has taken significant steps to assist Uganda in managing the Ebola outbreak.

WHO has donated 2,160 doses of the Ebola trial vaccine, which will be used to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine in combating the virus.

The experts noted that the combined efforts of IGAD, WHO, and the government of Uganda underscore the critical need for regional co-operation and robust emergency response mechanisms in addressing health crises like Mpox and Ebola.

They said that with significant financial support and strategic collaboration, Uganda is better positioned to confront these outbreaks and mitigate their impact on public health both within the country and across the region.