By Moses Mulondo
The health ministry is winding up the 42 days surveillance period required by the World Health Organisation to declare the country Ebola free as it sets out to honour those who tamed the epidemic.
In a statement issued on Friday, the health minister Christine Ondoa said Uganda will officially be declared Ebola free on October 4 at a national function during which the organizations and individuals who contributed to treating and taming the epidemic will be given certificates of appreciation.
Some of the organizations to be honoured include World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Red Cross, Tallow Oil, and the health workers who treated the patients.
The ministry, in collaboration with UPDF, will the whole of next week carry out various community outreach activities in different parts of the country as part of its golden jubilee celebration activities.
Although the focus of these activities will be in the whole country, the minister said, special attention will be put in the greater Bunyoro sub-region involving Buliisa, Hoima, Kibaale, Kiryandongo and Masindi.
Provision of health services at designated health facilities in Bunyoro districts will include routine immunization, provision of antenatal and post natal services, blood donation, sensitization on neglected tropical diseases, sanitation and hygiene, family planning services, HIV testing and counseling.
The region was chosen for series of social mobilization and health service provision due to its recent outbreak of the Ebola epidemic which killed a total of 17 people.
The ministry on Saturday held a national event at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital to flag off the activities which will also involve conducting a cleaning exercise of all the 14 regional hospitals throughout the country.
The minister said the cleaning these hospitals will be part of the new initiative by ministry aimed at raising the standard of hygiene and sanitation in the hospitals as the country marks 50 years of independence.
The hospitals to be cleaned by the ministry with the help of UPDF soldiers include Moroto, Mbarara, Mbale, soroti, Hoima, Mubende, Gulu, Arua, Lira, Fort Portal, Masaka, Kabale, Jinja and Kawolo.
The activities will coincide with the official declaration of an end to the Ebola outbreak during a national function in Kagadi hospital in Kibaale district.
