UNICEF launches quick response after confirmation of first cases of Ebola and deaths in Uganda

Among the cases, a 5-year-old boy who, after visiting his family in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), returned to Uganda on 9 June and died Tuesday night after being transferred to Bwera Ebola. Processing unit in Kasese.

The boy's grandmother also died of the virus in Kasese district on Wednesday, where nearly 400,000 children live.

The move from UNICEF to its intervention phase in Uganda follows months of preparation and prevention, as Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) increased. "Our thoughts are with this young boy's family. This is a tragic reminder that even a case of Ebola is too much of a case, "said Dr. Doreen Mulenga, UNICEF Representative in Uganda. "We must do everything in our power to stop this epidemic and prevent further unnecessary deaths. UNICEF is stepping up efforts to minimize this potentially devastating impact on children and communities in Uganda. In recent months, UNICEF has helped the Ugandan government implement extensive programs to ensure community safety in many districts. Western Uganda, on the border with the DRC, are ready to face a possible epidemic.

The support of UNICEF includes:

• Nearly 350,000 household visits to provide targeted and culturally appropriate information on Ebola prevention and timely care seeking;

• More than 14,000 community group meetings in schools, churches, mosques, markets, taxis, boda-boda and bus stops, as well as at funeral gatherings, to discuss Ebola prevention and the search for timely care, which affected approximately 2.4 million people;

• Provision of water, sanitation and hygiene products to more than 500 health facilities, more than 1,000 schools and 60 border points;

• Infection Prevention and Control Capacity Building in Health Facilities through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Interventions, Site Orientation work and supervision of health facility staff for effective prevention;

• Training of nearly 1,500 Ugandan Red Cross volunteers and para-social workers to help affected populations cope with the stress of the Ebola virus.

"Awareness is the best way to prevent the spread of this virus. Strategic communication of the correct knowledge and best practices to affected communities is essential to this end. UNICEF, among other key interventions, will give its full support to moving forward, "said Mulenga.

UNICEF needs $ 3.9 million (UGX 14.6 billion) to support the Ugandan government's response to the Ebola virus to intensive risk communication and social mobilization, water supply interventions , sanitation and hygiene, infant and young child nutrition, and psychosocial support for children and their families.