Health Minister announced government decision to extend the restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of Ebola in the country for 21 more days.
By Namale Shahista
The government has extended a lockdown on the districts of Kassanda and Mubende by 21 days to continue the fight against the spread of the Ebola pandemic.
Presenting a national address on the pandemic on behalf of the president, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, explained that the move was intended to further minimize the spread of this disease within these two most affected districts.
This, she argued would protect the rest of the country from further exposure. But Dr Aceng has reassured the nation that the government is doing everything to end the pandemic.
Since the health ministry first declared an Ebola outbreak in the central district of Mubende, the disease has spread across the East African nation, including Kampala.
‘I want to reassure the country that the government is doing all that is possible to control the outbreak therefore there’s no need for anxiety and panic, adding that the health workers too are doing all they can to stop the pandemic’’
The health minister said the situation is different in Kassanda where progress has been slow because of challenges of a weak health system, myths, misinformation and belief in witchcraft coupled with the unbecoming behavior of exhumation of dead bodies to perform cultural rituals.
“For example, from only one exhumed body, up to 43 persons have since been infected with Ebola, six of whom have succumbed to the disease. Therefore, the number of cases in Kasanda are still rising.”
Dr.Aceng noted that in the two epicenter districts, drug shops, pharmacies and private clinics have been reported as contributing to the spread of the infection among the population.
“Therefore, to minimize further the spread of Ebola within these districts and to protect the rest of the country from continued exposure, all the directives issued by the president on October 15,2022 will be extended for another 21 days.”
However, residents of Mubende Municipal Council want the President to consider their economic plight and relax the lockdown.
Ms Betty Nanyunjja, a resident of West Division in Mubende Municipality, claims that her roadside business which depends on travelers is closed.
She said the business is the major source of her family income.
“I have told my family members to fast and pray as the 21-day lockdown imposed on Mubende and Kassanda districts is lifted by the President. We have no alternative source of income,” she said.
But Ms Rosemary Byabasaija, the Resident District Commissioner and chairperson of the district Ebola taskforce, admitted that the lockdown reduced positive Ebola cases registered at the treatment units in Mubende.
“I believe that once the residents understand the message behind the lockdown, the cases could go to zero and Mubende will be free. I cannot guess the period but believe that we are on the right track,” she said.
The district taskforce said the Ebola treatment unit has registered only two positive cases in the last four days.
The other cases registered at the unit are from Kassanda and the other neighboring districts, the taskforce Chairperson revealed in an interview on Wednesday.
Ebola has claimed 45 lives since September 20 when the outbreak was declared.
Currently, 132 cumulative cases have been confirmed with 51 cumulative deaths and 61 recoveries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said the country had registered over 150 confirmed and probable cases, including 64 fatalities.
Ebola is spread through bodily fluids, with common symptoms being fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea.
