Health
Arua Ebola taskforce frustrated as DRC border markets remain open
Following the outbreak and confirmation of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain in DRC, the Uganda national taskforce has issued a directive to close all border markets.
Arua Ebola taskforce frustrated as DRC border markets remain open
By: Robert Adiga, Journalist @New Vision
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ARUA — The Arua district Ebola taskforce is concerned that the border markets on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side have continued to operate normally amidst the Ebola virus Disease outbreak.
Following the outbreak and confirmation of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain in DRC, the Uganda national taskforce has issued a directive to close all border markets.
However, while Ugandan border markets are closed, the markets on the DRC side continue to operate, attracting significant numbers of people from Uganda, hence increasing the risk of spreading Ebola.
The Arua Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Denis Okwai Jawoko, a member of the taskforce, said despite the borders being manned by security forces to limit entry through ungazetted routes, the operation of the DRC markets had made the enforcement difficult.
The acting Arua District Health Officer, Dr Geoffrey Orijabo, said many Ugandans have been attracted to the DRC markets despite their efforts to curb the rampant movement.
“Most of these markets are along the border, part of it in DRC and the other part on the Ugandan side. So, while we closed all our markets, the markets on the DRC side are booming, and what our people do is cross to DRC and do their business, which poses a big challenge for us,” Orijabo lamented.
The Arua senior assistant secretary, Jimmy Ali, reiterated the need to have a close collaboration with the DRC authorities as they have activated all their inactive markets due to the closure of markets on the Ugandan side.
“A number of our community members have two homes; one in DRC and another in Uganda. While we closed our markets, the Congolese have since reactivated all their inactive markets, and Ugandans are flocking to these markets. This was the same case during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Ali stated.
However, Dr Ronald Miria Ocaatre, the assistant Commissioner for Health Promotion and Communication in the ministry of Health, said talks are ongoing with Congolese authorities, including the ambassador, to expeditiously rally them to join the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.
The acting Arua District Health Officer, Dr Geoffrey Orijabo, said many Ugandans have been attracted to the DRC markets despite their efforts to curb the rampant movement.
“Most of these markets are along the border, part of it in DRC and the other part on the Ugandan side. So, while we closed all our markets, the markets on the DRC side are booming, and what our people do is cross to DRC and do their business, which poses a big challenge for us,” Orijabo lamented.
The Arua senior assistant secretary, Jimmy Ali, reiterated the need to have a close collaboration with the DRC authorities as they have activated all their inactive markets due to the closure of markets on the Ugandan side.
“A number of our community members have two homes; one in DRC and another in Uganda. While we closed our markets, the Congolese have since reactivated all their inactive markets, and Ugandans are flocking to these markets. This was the same case during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Ali stated.
However, Dr Ronald Miria Ocaatre, the assistant Commissioner for Health Promotion and Communication in the ministry of Health, said talks are ongoing with Congolese authorities, including the ambassador, to expeditiously rally them to join the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.
“As I speak, there was a discussion where we had the Congolese ambassador with other delegates from DRC, and we had a fruitful discussion where we agreed that this is a problem that we should tackle together as our people continue to move across the border for many social events,” said Ocaatre.
He said the Ugandan Ministry of Health, together with partners, was training Ugandan medical experts who will be deployed to the Ebola treatment Units in eastern DRC.
Ebola broke out in eastern DRC at the beginning of May this year, and on May 17, the World Health Organisation declared the disease an international emergency. Uganda has since registered 19 cases, of which 14 cases were from DRC. Currently, Uganda has 10 patients admitted to treatment facilities, while seven people have recovered from the disease. Two deaths have been recorded.
He said the Ugandan Ministry of Health, together with partners, was training Ugandan medical experts who will be deployed to the Ebola treatment Units in eastern DRC.
Ebola broke out in eastern DRC at the beginning of May this year, and on May 17, the World Health Organisation declared the disease an international emergency. Uganda has since registered 19 cases, of which 14 cases were from DRC. Currently, Uganda has 10 patients admitted to treatment facilities, while seven people have recovered from the disease. Two deaths have been recorded.