BY JOACKIM KULE
Residents in Kasese District have been encouraged to continue upholding measures aimed at preventing and controlling the Ebola virus.
Health experts argue that the proximity of Kasese with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) makes the residents vulnerable to contracting Ebola even when Uganda has been declared free from the disease.
The encouragement was sounded on Tuesday morning by the Kasese District Assistant Health Officer in-charge of Environmental Health, Mr. Stephen Bagonza while opening a one-day training for the media practitioners on how to bridge the communication gaps in creating awareness about the Ebola Disease in the communities.
The training, which was organized by Mercy Corps, an international organization that prevents extremism through advocacy, resilience and local action program, saw media practitioners categorized into journalists, Tiktokers, bloggers and influencers attend the workshop.
Mr. Bagonza indicated that much as the country has been declared Ebola free, efforts geared towards its prevention and control should be kept in place especially by the people living in Kasese District, arguing that the neighboring DRC still grapples with the disease.
According to him, the vulnerability of the district is posed by a number of factors including some families who live in both countries and allegedly use porous routes to attend to their relatives.
Lawrence Otim, the Programs Manager at Mercy Corps, observed the need for handwashing to be made a common practice among the people in their respective communities.
He suggested that handwashing should be emphasized among the school going children so that they too disseminate the message to the rest of the people at their respective homes.
ENDS