Kampala, 11th January -- After battling an Ebola outbreak for four months, the Ugandan Minister of Health, Dr. Aceng Ocero confirmed that all transmission chains of the virus have been fully interrupted, declaring Uganda devoid of any active cases. Since the outbreak, the country has registered a total of 142 confirmed cases, 22 probable cases, 55 deaths and 87 recoveries. Dr. Ocero's declaration is the manifestation of great hard work; it has involved quarantines for 21 days, a 42-day lockdown, an all-night curfew and limitations on movement within certain districts.
Beyond efforts within the Ugandan governance, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aided in this. The UNDP repurposed core resources, securing additional funding from the UNDP Crisis Bureau and sanctioning $1,300,00 to the national response.
UNICEF teams also directly engaged in various response mechanisms to help mitigate Uganda's strife.
With the crisis now halted, Uganda calls upon its development partners to focus on research, infection prevention, and capacity building within the East African Community. More than ever, this outbreak confirms that there can be no development where there is no robust health system. UNDP, the Ministry Health, and the World Health Organization, along with other partners aim to now strengthen Uganda's resilience and response to public health emergencies. Dr. Ocero's declaration marks a return to normalcy. This is certainly a victory for the Ugandan public.
Sources: UNDP. "Uganda Declared Ebola Outbreak Free, With a Call to Remain Vigilant". https://www.undp.org/uganda/news/uganda-declared-ebola-outbreak-free-call-remain-vigilant. January 13, 2023. [Accessed: January 17 2023].
Asiimwe and Chemisto. UNICEF. "Uganda declared Ebola-free". https://www.unicef.org/uganda/stories/uganda-declared-ebola-free. 16 January 2023. [Accessed: January 17 2023]
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