The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu has hailed Uganda for successfully containing Ebola.
In a statement, Dr. Workneh applauded the leadership, and the elaborate , swift and well-coordinated measures established by the Government of the Republic of Uganda to raise public awareness and invest in systems that prevented the outbreak from spreading.
Dr. Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health on Wednesday 11th December 2023 declared Uganda free from Ebola after spending two incubation cycles without any new cases or any admissions.
“I now confirm that Al transmission chains have been fully interrupted and take this opportunity to declare that the outbreak is over, and Uganda is now free of active Ebola transmission,” declared Dr. Ruth Aceng on Wednesday 11th January 2023.
Workneh through a statement commended the healthcare professionals for their response and members who paid tribute to the health workers who paid the ultimate price while selflessly performing their duties and extended his sympathies to those whose loved ones perished as a result of the disease.
He called upon member states of IGAD to avail requisite resources to build resilient health systems to cushion the public from disease outbreaks and pandemics.
At the time of declaring Uganda free from the Sudan Ebola Virus, the country had 143 confirmed cases with 22 probable cases, 55 deaths, and 87 recoveries.
The outbreak started in Mubende district and was confirmed on 19th September 2022. It then spread to nine Districts of Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Kagadi, Bunyangabu, Wakiso, Jinja, Masaka, and Kampala districts.