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URN The Ministry of Health (MoH), with support from Plan International, has trained 800 Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Zombo District as part of efforts to strengthen Ebola surveillance, community awareness and early reporting following Uganda’s confirmation o
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The Ministry of Health (MoH), with support from Plan International, has trained 800 Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Zombo District as part of efforts to strengthen Ebola surveillance, community awareness and early reporting following Uganda’s confirmation of an outbreak on May 15, 2026.
The two-day training equipped community health workers with knowledge and skills on Ebola transmission, screening, personal protection, community sensitisation, risk communication, coordination, and reporting of suspected signs and symptoms.
Speaking during the training at the Community Hall in Zombo District headquarters, Dr Ronald Miria Ocaatre, Assistant Commissioner for Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health, reminded VHTs of their critical role in supporting Uganda’s health system.
Dr Ocaatre urged the community health workers to remain vigilant and promptly report unusual health conditions in their communities. “Any strange thing that’s happening, just report. You’re the first respondent daily,” he stressed.
He also advised VHTs to sensitise communities against travelling to markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the outbreak period, as Uganda continues efforts to prevent further spread of Ebola.
“Avoid markets in DR Congo, report any person who presents with fever to the nearest health facility for professional screening,” he said. Dr Ocaatre appreciated Plan International and other development partners for supporting government efforts to contain Ebola, calling for additional support to train more VHTs to strengthen community-based surveillance and reporting.
By the time of filing this story, Uganda’s Ebola situation stood at 20 cumulative confirmed cases, including 15 imported cases and five locally transmitted cases. The country had recorded three active cases, 15 recoveries and two cumulative deaths.
Zombo District, Arua District and Arua City remain among the high-risk areas due to their proximity to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is the reported epicentre of the outbreak.
Dr Mark Bramali Bonny, the Zombo District Health Officer (DHO), said the district has 1,625 VHTs, adding that nine sub-counties are located along the border with the DRC.
Christine Mawurado from Umore Village in Athuma Sub-county said the training would help address myths and misconceptions surrounding Ebola and improve community understanding of the disease.
Obodgiu Agore East Village resident, Oyeyu Parish in Nyapea Sub-county, commended the government’s response to the public health emergency and praised the decision to prioritise training community health workers to support disease surveillance.