Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has dismissed claims that Uganda’s isolation centers have been abandoned, saying they have been repurposed into training facilities after outbreaks are contained.
Speaking at a media briefing at Busamaga Primary School in Mbale district, Dr. Aceng emphasized that while isolation facilities like the one at Mulago Hospital show natural wear and tear, they are maintained and refurbished as needed.
“Our isolation centers are not abandoned. Once an outbreak ends, we convert them into training centers,” she said,during the declaration of Uganda as Ebola Free.
The Minister reminded the public that Uganda continues to battle multiple outbreaks beyond Ebola, including measles, which is often overlooked. She stressed that all outbreaks, regardless of their profile, are taken seriously by the health system.
On the matter of health worker motivation, Dr. Aceng called health workers Uganda’s “most important resource” in managing outbreaks, from professional medical staff to Village Health Teams. She acknowledged occasional bureaucratic delays in allowance payments but assured that such issues are addressed promptly.
Dr. Aceng warned that Uganda is unlikely to remain Ebola-free indefinitely due to increasing human encroachment into wildlife habitats. She explained that studies by Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) have mapped high-risk areas populated by animals like bats and monkeys, which can carry the virus.
“You cannot get rid of wildlife because we live in an ecological system,” she noted, stressing the importance of vigilance.
To ensure rapid detection and containment of future outbreaks, Uganda has strengthened its surveillance and laboratory systems with the help of partners. Surveillance continues even between outbreaks, covering diseases like influenza, yellow fever, and polio, with guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Minister also highlighted legislative efforts, including adherence to the Public Health Act and International Health Regulations, to strengthen Uganda’s response mechanisms.
She pointed to ongoing initiatives like the Tokomeza vaccine trial, aimed at preventing the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, as a critical tool in the country’s health defense strategy.
“Our goal is to detect and end outbreaks quickly because the faster we act, the cheaper and safer it is for everyone,” Dr. Aceng concluded.