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Ugandan President Vows to Curb Ebola
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said December 5 in Kampala that his government will do all that is possible to stop the Ebola epidemic and to protect and save the lives of Ugandans.
In a message of condolence to the family of Dr. Matthew Lukwiya who died of Ebola Monday night, the president called upon all people in Uganda to be alert about this deadly virus.
Every Ugandan should play his rightful role to guard against the epidemic, he said.
"I have been very closely following the Ebola epidemic since it broke out and instructed the minister of health to make the first public announcement on the outbreak in order to alert the public about this new danger," Museveni was quoted as saying by a press release from the President's Office.
So far the Ebola epidemic has claimed 156 Ugandans, including 12 nurses, one doctor in Gulu in northern Uganda, one hospital driver and one hospital cleaner in Masindi in the west.
"I wish to salute the health workers, community workers and political leaders who have coordinated and worked tirelessly against this epidemic since it broke out," Museveni said.
The president promised that the government will compensate and assist the families of the deceased health workers who died while caring for Ebola patients.
"The greatest honor we can bestow on this distinguished doctor and patriot Dr. Matthew Lukwiya and to all the health workers who have died in the struggle to save the lives of others struck by the virus is for us to intensify our efforts to fight and contain the epidemic," he said.
The Ebola epidemic broke out in September in the northern Ugandan district of Gulu. So far 370 cases have been confirmed in Gulu, 24 cases in Masindi district and five in Mbarara district in the southwest.
It is the first time that Ebola has stricken Uganda. The outbreak of the disease took place in southern Sudan in 1979, and it hit Kikwit, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing over 300 people in 1995.
Ebola Cases Reach 399 in UgandaAnother 23 Ebola cases have been reported from last Friday to Tuesday in Uganda, bringing the total number of cases to 399, Ugandan Health Ministry announced.
"The 14 new cases have been confirmed in Gulu in northern Uganda, and nine confirmed in Masindi district in the west," Alex Opio, Assistant Commissioner for National Disease Control, told a news briefing at the ministry's headquarters.
In the same period, nine new deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 156 in the country, said Opio.
Up to now, 14 health workers have been killed since the Ebola epidemic broke out in September, among the dead were a hospital official in Gulu, 12 nurses and one clinical officer, according to Opio.
He noted that in Masindi district, all the 24 cases and 12 deaths are from one family, adding that two health workers have been infected and they are still alive.
"Health education and active case search have been intensified in Masindi district," said Opio.
"The epidemic is still on in the country, and the health ministry calls upon the public to remain vigilant and adhere to the preventive measures," he added.
Opio disclosed that so far Ebola cases have been only confirmed in Gulu, Mbarara and Masindi districts, and the other 42 districts including capital Kampala have no cases.
It is the first time that Ebola has stricken Uganda. The outbreak of the disease took place in southern Sudan in 1979, and it hit Kikwit, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1995, killing over 300 people.
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