Kampala/Uganda: The Uganda Ministry of Well being (MOH), with assist from the World Well being Group (WHO) and companions deployed the nationwide Emergency Medical Crew (nEMT) to the continuing Sudan Virus Illness (SVD) response.
On 30 January 2025, MOH declared an outbreak of SVD within the nation after a 35-year-old Ugandan male who labored as a nurse in Mulago Nationwide Referral Hospital examined constructive for the virus following his demise on 29 January 2025. Earlier than his analysis, he sought therapy at a number of well being amenities, together with Mulago Referral Hospital in Kampala, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga in Wakiso District, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale Metropolis.
By 2 February 2025, Uganda had recorded a complete of 9 confirmed circumstances. This contains the index case and eight extra confirmed circumstances from three completely different districts. This brings the overall to 9 circumstances (one mortality and eight recoveries).
In response, the Ministry of Well being swiftly deployed the nationwide Emergency Medical Crew to assist case administration. A complete of 44 nationwide Emergency Medical Crew members of varied cadres have been deployed. A crew of 26 was deployed to assist the operationalization of Mulago Nationwide Referral Hospital, whereas 18 have been deployed to Mbale district Ebola therapy unit. This marked the primary time that the nation has deployed the nationwide EMT for an Ebola response.
At Mulago hospital, the nEMT members have been on floor inside two hours of deployment, instantly establishing the isolation unit and making ready to obtain sufferers. Their assist included offering direct scientific care in keeping with nationwide Ebola case administration tips, strengthening referral methods to evacuate new circumstances from the group promptly, and constructing capability of the native groups by coaching and mentorship.
In Mbale, the crew was deployed on Monday 3 February 2025 to strengthen the isolation unit set-up and assist scientific care. The Mbale crew consisted of 18 members together with physicians, nurses, a logistician, An infection Prevention and Management officer, plus a protected and dignified burial crew.
“In earlier outbreaks, we relied on mobilization of well being staff throughout the nation, working alongside surge groups from exterior the nation. Nonetheless, this time, we had a totally educated, readily deployable educated crew who have been on-site inside two hours of deployment and totally constituted inside 12 hours. As a rustic, it is a proud second for us,” stated Dr Rony Bahatungire, Ag. Commissioner – Medical Providers and nationwide EMT focal individual.
Past scientific care, the nEMT has performed a crucial position in offering psychological well being and psycho-social providers to well being staff, sufferers and their communities together with affected faculties. Mentorship and coaching have been prolonged to present well being staff throughout the native methods, to make sure sustainable assist to survivors’ resettlement.
Sudan Virus Illness outbreaks have reported a mortality fee between 41% to 70% in earlier outbreaks. The final outbreak within the nation recorded a mortality fee of 47%. Nonetheless, the EVD mortality fee throughout this response has been 11.1%, and this was the index case. The response has recorded a 100% survival fee for all sufferers admitted to the isolation models. This is because of a number of causes together with the speedy deployment of an skilled EMT that has maintained the excessive customary of care.
Since their deployment on 30 January 2025, the crew has maintained 24-hour protection, offering optimized scientific care. This included early supportive care throughout the spectrum from gentle circumstances to provision of crucial care. They’ve managed a complete of eight confirmed circumstances and quite a few suspects. So far, no mortality has been reported in both of the isolation models, regardless of managing some extreme and important circumstances together with youngsters.
“Public well being emergencies can rapidly overwhelm the native well being methods, necessitating extra assist. Happily, the nationwide EMTs perceive the native context and are readily deployable to assist affected communities,” stated Dr Kasonde Mwinga, the WHO Consultant to Uganda.
Uganda at the moment has 149 nEMT members, prepared to answer public well being emergencies. The nEMT idea dates to December 2021 in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the time, MOH, with assist from WHO, hosted the primary regional coaching for nEMT members to assist the COVID-19 response. MOH continued to construct the crew by extra trainings and drills supported by WHO with funding from companions just like the European Union Humanitarian Support Company (DG ECHO), the Robert Koch Institute and Malteser Worldwide amongst others. The nEMT has additionally beforehand deployed for Mpox and measles outbreaks throughout the nation.
In July 2024, Uganda’s Ministry of Well being authorized the nEMT roadmap to information future emergency response efforts. This aligns with the WHO international EMT initiative, which goals to enhance the pace and high quality of emergency medical response whereas strengthening nationwide well being methods.
“The work that we do will not be solely about responding to outbreaks. Preparedness is a vital a part of our work. The Uganda nationwide EMTs program has proven the significance of preparedness and its impression on response.” Dr Michael Ryan, Deputy Director Common and Head – World Well being Emergencies, WHO Headquarters, Geneva.