President Yoweri Museveni has this evening warned Bodaboda riders in Mubende and Kassanda districts of flouting guidelines intended to control the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
Ebola was first diagnosed in Mubende in September this year and this was later followed by a lockdown restricting movements in and out of the district and its neighbour Kassanda. The 21 days of restricted movement ended a week ago but Museveni through the minister for health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng declared another 21 days of lockdown.
But Museveni in his 4th address on Ebola this evening said Bodaboda riders were defying guidelines of carrying only cargo but instead chose to ferry passengers from one district to another.
“I have been informed that there is a challenge in Mubende; Whereas we later allowed Bodaboda to carry cargo to support families, they have abused this permission and are carrying out a passenger relay system to transport people instead of cargo. This poses a risk of transfer of infection to other districts. With the help of Bodabodas, people are escaping through Kyaka II refugee camp and end up in facilities in Kampala City and other districts,” Museveni said.
Ministry of Health figures show there are a total of 141 confirmed cases of Ebola, 55 of
these have died while 73 have recovered and 13 are admitted to the Ebola Treatment Units. Museveni said before the lockdown was imposed restrictions on Mubende District whose objective was to control transmission out of the epicenter and specifically into Kampala City and consolidate efforts to contain the outbreak, on average, up to five cases of Ebola were confirmed on 3 a daily basis.
“However, in the first 21 days of restrictions, I have been told that the number of cases reduced to an average of 3 cases per day. This was because of intensifying control interventions which included; door to door sensitization of the communities by the Village Health Teams, training of the health workers on Infection Prevention Control in both public and private health facilities, safe dignified burials of all deceased in the communities and hospitals and early treatment of cases at the Ebola Treatment Units 3 a daily basis,” Museveni said.
Museveni said in the first 21 days of restrictions, the number of cases reduced to an average of 3 cases per day. This was because of intensifying control interventions which included; door to door sensitization of the communities by the Village Health Teams, training of the health workers on Infection Prevention Control in both public and private health facilities, safe dignified burials of all deceased in the communities and hospitals and early treatment of cases at the Ebola Treatment Units.
“Our efforts are beginning to pay off as we have seen a decline in the number of cases in Mubende. For example, for 18 days, we did not get a case until yesterday when we got one case. I want to thank the people of Mubende for their determination to end this epidemic and congratulate them on the good work they are doing. However, the outbreak is not yet over and you need to put in more effort,” Museveni said.