The health minister, Jane Ruth Aceng, has held a meeting with officials from the NGOs and Mubende district leaders involved in the fight against Ebola.

During the meeting held at the district council hall in Kaweri, Aceng asked them to double their efforts by putting in more time as they serve.

"A pandemic must be handled immediately and whatever you are doing must be done immediately, not waiting for days," she said.

She directed that starting today (Saturday), they embark on contact tracing in all the communities.

"It's a pity that this disease seems to have started earlier, but we could only learn about it in late September. This is bad. We need to ensure that it does not spend any more and so contact tracing will help us to identify more people," she added.

Aceng also told local leaders and VHTs to remain determined to fight the disease.

She asked the VHTs to closely follow any sick people and uncertain deaths and report them to the district leaders.

Escorted by Buwekula MP Pascal Mbabazi, the minister visited Mubende Regional Referral Hospital where an isolation centre was set up.

The hospital Director, Dr Emmanuel Batiibwe, said they are planning to expand the isolation centre.

Mbabazi thanked the minister for the visit and said it has couraged the medics.

He also asked to upgrade health centres in some sub-counties.