KISORO DISTRICT STEPS UP SURVEILLANCE AGAINST EBOLA

By Kweronda Ambrose
KISORO

The Kisoro district health officer, Dr. Nsabiyunva Stephen has warned members of the public against unnecessary movements across the common border following the resurgence of the deadly Ebola virus in DR Congo.

Dr. Stephen Nsabiyunva said that the outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo puts Kisoro district and Uganda at risk.
He said that so far health authorities have confirmed 08 Ebola cases and 02 people died of the disease in Beni, north eastern DR Congo.

He cautioned residents against crossing into DR Congo saying they risk contracting the highly contagious Ebola disease. He said that so far, no Ebola case has been reported in Kisoro district.
Dr. Stephen Nsabiyunva said that screening is being conducted at Nyakabande transit camp and at Kyanika border.
He said that Kisoro district is in talks with ministry of health to extend screening services at the border in Mpaka town council Busanza sub county. He however said that currently there is no screening at Bunagana border because the border was closed.
According to world health organization, Ebola is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever that causes a range of symptoms including fever, voting, diarrhea, generalized pain and in many cases internal and external bleeding.

Meanwhile; Following the upsurge of malaria disease in some parts of Uganda, Dr. Stephen Nsabiyunva cautioned residents against self-medication. He advised residents to seek medical help whenever they fall sick to get the right treatment. He noted that Kisoro is not among the 40 districts with Malaria upsurge cases.

He however, recommended residents to always sleep under treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria transmission. He said Ugandan government distributes mosquito nets to every household every three years in fight against malaria. He also noted that public health facilities give free mosquito nets to expectant mothers seeking antenatal and during immunization exercise.

Dr. Stephen Nsabiyunva further revealed that the government of Uganda has plans of vaccinating children under five years against polio across the country starting in September this year. He said the exercise will be conducted house to house and Kisoro district target to vaccinate at least 70,000 children against polio disease.