The government has continued to strengthen efforts to prevent and control the spread of Ebola by enhancing public awareness campaigns on how citizens can protect themselves against the deadly disease.
Speaking during a Tanzania-Uganda cross-border meeting on infectious disease control and emergency health preparedness in the border areas of Mutukula and Kabanga in Kagera Region, Kagera Regional Medical Officer Dr. Samuel Laizer said the government has intensified health education through various community platforms and the involvement of community health workers.
Dr. Laizer explained that community health workers have been deployed to directly engage residents in high-risk areas, particularly along border communities where movement of people is frequent.
He said health experts have already started providing awareness campaigns in unofficial border crossing points between Tanzania and neighbouring countries, while vehicles equipped with public announcement systems are moving across different areas to disseminate precautionary messages and educate the public on Ebola prevention measures.
According to him, the ongoing initiatives are aimed at increasing public understanding of Ebola symptoms, encouraging early reporting of suspected cases, and urging citizens to follow instructions provided by health professionals to prevent possible outbreaks.
Acting Assistant Director for Environmental Health and Sanitation, Dr. Amour Selemani, commended the continued cooperation between Tanzania and Uganda in strengthening health surveillance at border points, community awareness programmes and rapid response mechanisms aimed at preventing the disease from entering and spreading within the country.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health’s Head of Border Health Services, Remigius Kakuru, said enhancing public awareness on Ebola in border areas remains critical due to the high movement of people from different locations.
He noted that providing accurate information on Ebola symptoms, modes of transmission and preventive measures will help increase vigilance among citizens and travellers while strengthening the ability of communities to take early preventive action against the disease.
