Ebola article on task force

By Lawrence Mugisha

Ugandan professionals who have been involved in Ebola and recently returned from West Africa have formed a forum code named Ebola Fighter’s Forum (EFF).

The Ebola outbreak which has devastated three West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and started in 2013 has infected more than 20,656 and killed 8153 people accordingly. The current Ebola outbreak was sparked off in Guinea by a 2 year old child who played under a tree inhabited by insectivorous bats in December 2013. It has since spread to five countries in West Africa (mainly Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and to less extent Nigeria, Senegal and Mali) and for the first time resulted in cases in Europe (Spain and England) and USA. 

The response to the outbreak required significant mobilisation of resources nationally and internationally.

Uganda is one of the Haemorrhagic Fever-prone countries having suffered four Ebola, three Marburg, 1 Yellow Fever and 1 Crimean Congo Fever outbreaks.   One of the outcomes of the persistent fight against these deadly epidemics in Uganda is development of significant human capacity to identify, investigate and control Ebola and related haemorrhagic fevers.

Uganda’s main contribution has been in expert human resources who have played and continue to play a critical role in the outbreak.  More than 100 Ugandan experts - Epidemiologists, Medical doctors, Clinical officers, Nurses, psychiatrists, and communication experts have participated in outbreak response.

As part of the Regional and international response, human resource expertise was drawn from Uganda given our past experiences of managing the same disease. Indeed, these Ugandans have provided expertise in various aspects including the needed leadership, logistics management, case identification, case management, Infection Prevention and Control, social mobilisation, Psycho-social support and anxiety management and Dead Body Management among others.

In appreciation of this noble contribution, West African Governments have recognised and awarded some Ugandans with prestigious awards. Just to mention a few: Dr. Monica Musenero was crowned as “Kornya-a female warrior who leads an arm to victory”; Paramount Chief which makes her  a citizen and a ruler of Koya Chiefdom” and Dr. Atai Omuroto has been voted by Liberians as one of the best personalities  of 2014 among other high profile leaders in Liberia.

A number of these brave Ebola warriors who ably represented Uganda returned to the country just before Christmas either for a break or at end of their mission. Others in this fight like Dr Sam Mutooro Muhumuza as well as a son one of the former presidents of Uganda, Dr Dada, succumbed to Ebola in the line of duty. This sacrifice and dedication to provision of honourable service to our fellow Africans needs to be highlighted. They are heroes to humanity quite like our gallant military soldiers. Doctor Mawanda, miraculously recovered from Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Those who returned from Sierra Leone and Liberia, met at a get–together organized by Dr. Monica Musenero in collaboration with Uganda Veterinary Association at Namboole Sports Hotel on 3rd January, 2015. The get-together was meant to welcome back and allow interaction between the Ebola Fighters and well-wishers who expressed interest in interacting with the front line workers; to assess post- traumatic stress effects among returnees as well as explore means of future association.

The testimonies were quite revealing and touching and provided great sense of different cultural perspectives. It was during this gathering that a need for establishment of a networking forum for Ebola fighters and well-wishers was expressed. A consensus outcome of the discussions was establishment of an Ebola Fighters Forum and Network. An interim steering Committee led by Dr. Monica Musenero as Chair and Dr. Atai Omoruto as Vice Chair and with up to six other members was tasked with the responsibility of putting down a draft framework for operationalization of the forum.  The event, attended by various Ebola fighters was graced by Dr. Christine Ondoa, Director General of the Uganda AIDS Commission as the Guest of Honour.

A National Task Force for Disease Outbreak already exists under the Ministry of Health. The Ebola fighters’ Forum and network is just a forum to provide a platform for networking, experience sharing, capacity building and provision of coordinated services as a compliment to government efforts. 

During the Independence Day celebrations of 2014, His Excellency the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni recognized the effort of Ugandans who commit themselves to fighting the dangerous epidemic of Ebola in West Africa. The EFF will follow-up on this interest by the President so that Uganda is enriched by lessons learnt from the West African Ebola outbreak management experience.

The writer is an Assoc. Prof. Lawrence Mugisha, Makerere University