Remarks at ceremony to declare end of Ebola Outbreak in Uganda

Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Jane Aceng

Your Excellencies, Ambassadors

Representatives of Donor Agencies and Partner Organizations

WHO Representative in Uganda

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

Thank you for inviting me to address you on behalf of the United Nations on this important day when the Government of Uganda declares the end of the Sudan ebolavirus outbreak; an outbreak that has been fought and conquered in an efficient and timely manner – thanks to the joint effort of all the partners involved in this herculean task.

My sincere congratulations to the Government, to the partners, the frontline responders and to the affected communities.  In this moment of celebration, I wish to recall some important work that we have delivered together in containing the EVD, under the leadership of the Ministry of Health.

With UN support, and in response to the September 2022 outbreak, Uganda took immediate measures at both national and sub-national levels to strengthen all pillars of the response. The country activated the incident management system and the National Multi-Stakeholder Task Force (NTF) chaired by the Ministry of Health and co-chaired by WHO to effectively coordinate the response.

The National Taskforce enabled the immediate mobilization and deployment of technical, financial, and operational resources to the affected nine districts, including Mubende, where the first case was confirmed. [Note on districts: Mubende, Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Kagadi, Wakiso, Kampala, Masaka, Jinja and Bunyangabu.]

With support from its health partners, including the UN System, Uganda was able to activate District Task Forces (DTFs) in the high-risk districts, train and deploy Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and Village Health Teams (VHTs). In addition, critical logistical support, WASH infrastructure and materials, and emergency food were made available rapidly. The Ministry of Health was quickly able to provide the Mubende Regional Referral Hospital with infection prevention and control equipment, including three Ebola kits capable of handling more than 300 Ebola patients.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Progress was made also in finding long-lasting solution – there are now candidate vaccines against Sudan ebolavirus which are in different stages of development. Uganda has so far received the three recommended candidate vaccines, awaiting further discussions on future research. WHO, on behalf of the UN Team, will continue to ensure well-coordinated UN support delivered on this front. 

Through the UN’s support to the Ministry of Health, and in coordination with other national and international partners, I am pleased to report that the critical response areas have been well handled - Ebola surveillance and contact tracing, case management, follow-up care for Ebola survivors, diagnostics and laboratories, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, waste management, care and treatment for patients in Ebola Treatment Units, safe and dignified burials, and also essential health services, including the GBV services. Through local partners, we have intensified surveillance efforts to detect Ebola in the affected districts.

Since, today marks the 42nd day since the death of the last confirmed case, it is a sign that the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease outbreak has been contained.

The UN adds its voice to WHO, the Ministry of Health and all the other partners, to appeal to public to embrace prevention measures in order to avoid a recurrence of Ebola.

Health workers should continue to be mindful of infection prevention procedures including wearing gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment when taking care of ill patients.

All of us should be aware of the means of transmission and we should always wash our hands thoroughly with soap and clean water, avoid direct contact with any person suspected or infected with Ebola. Let me remind you that it is critical that all persons who have died of Ebola must be buried immediately by a trained burial team and accorded a safe and dignified burial to prevent further spread of the disease.

The work, however, doesn’t stop here. Much needs to be done to make sure we stay safe. While today we can declare Uganda being Ebola free, we have right reason to celebrate. Now that the Ebola outbreak has been declared over, the polio campaign can take place in the Ebola affected districts and also schools will re-open.

Together, we need to ensure that continuity of essential services remains our priority, especially in health and education.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

From the recent disease outbreaks, we have learnt that adequate water and sanitation is lifesaving as it prevents disease outbreaks and infections. Please be ensured that enabling WASH services within communities, at health facility level, but also at schools is a key priority to the UN.  

We also know that the Village Health Teams are critical for community engagement and the need to further strengthen primary health care system, which is critical in identifying and addressing disease outbreaks like Ebola, COVID-19 but also the killer disease incl malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia.

Dear colleagues and partners, I look forward to working with you on maintaining an Ebola free Uganda.

Thank You.