By Zachery Onyango | Project Leader
Dear Donor,
The declaration of Uganda as Ebola-free brought tremendous relief to families across the country. Yet for communities living along the Uganda–Democratic Republic of Congo border, the emergency is not simply a memory. The continuing transmission of Ebola in the DRC requires sustained vigilance, preparedness, and community engagement.
The latest available regional figures show that the DRC has reached 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths as of August 16. The outbreak has surpassed the country's previous Ebola record and is spreading rapidly in a difficult operating environment.
Development Alert is continuing to work with border communities to ensure that the lessons learned from Uganda's response remain active. Community volunteers are helping share accurate health information and encouraging residents to report unusual illness promptly. Local leaders are being encouraged to maintain communication with health facilities and community health structures.
Our awareness activities continue in locations where people regularly interact, including markets, schools, transport stages, places of worship, and community gathering points. These activities emphasize practical prevention rather than fear. Residents are encouraged to seek reliable information, maintain appropriate hygiene, and cooperate with health authorities if an alert occurs.
Transport workers and boda boda riders remain important partners because they regularly connect villages, trading centers, and border communities. Engaging these groups strengthens the flow of accurate information throughout communities.
The emergency motorcycle remains an important part of our preparedness capacity, particularly in remote areas where poor roads can delay field response. It allows teams to travel quickly for community visits, follow-up activities, awareness campaigns, and delivery of essential supplies.
Uganda's Ebola-free status is an achievement we celebrate. But our responsibility now is to protect that achievement. Continued donor support will allow Development Alert to maintain grassroots preparedness and help ensure that communities closest to the DRC remain informed, vigilant, and ready to respond.
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