Le Lézard
Classified in: Ebola virus
Subjects: Photo/Multimedia, Statement

AHF Salutes Uganda on Ebola Response Win


AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global HIV/AIDS organization, hailed today the Government of Uganda's heroic efforts in successfully controlling the Ebola Sudan virus (a rare strain of the virus) outbreak, after Uganda's Minister for Health, Dr Jane Aceng, officially declared the nation Ebola-free during a ceremony to mark the end of the outbreak. This declaration comes after the East African country has gone 42 days with no active cases, in line with standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"I salute Uganda for so effectively controlling this outbreak despite the fact that it invaded its largest city. Rich countries with an abundance of resources could learn a lot from Uganda," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

The outbreak, which began about four months ago, affected five districts, including Mubende (the epicentre) and Kampala, resulting in 143 confirmed cases and 55 fatalities ? six were among healthcare workers. This was the eighth time Uganda had faced an Ebola outbreak since 2000, when the nation saw its first and deadliest occurrence, which left more than 200 people dead.

"We applaud the government and healthcare workers for rising to the occasion once again and demonstrating that when we work concertedly and put the right systems in place, we can combat public health threats effectively," said Dr. Penninah Iutung, AHF Africa Bureau Chief. "Uganda has shown remarkable leadership in its Ebola response through improving monitoring and alert systems, building capacity of healthcare workers to respond swiftly to emergencies, strengthening contact tracing mechanisms and linkage, mobilizing partner support, and increasing community sensitisation and involvement - which have all been instrumental to this success."

This is significant for us as a country program," said Henry Magala, Country Program Director, AHF Uganda Cares. "We are glad to have contributed to supporting the government's response during the outbreak through media awareness campaigns on Ebola prevention and control, and contributing to the national roll-out team following the training of 19 AHF Uganda Cares staff as mentors by the Ministry of Health."

In 2014, AHF lost two of its doctors in West Africa during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, and the organization has continued to advocate for improved public health emergency response systems anchored on equity and mutual cooperation globally, while supporting government efforts in different capacities across the 45 countries in which it operates. This win by Uganda again demonstrates that there are lessons to be learnt from the African continent in containing, averting, and responding to public health emergencies.

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.6 million people in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.


These press releases may also interest you

21 mar 2019
The "Europe Welding Equipment Market-Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 - 2024)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Welding is one of the critical processes employed in the manufacturing...

21 mar 2019
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that its Ebola vaccine, INO-4201, was safe, tolerable, and generated strong T cell and antibody responses. This Phase 1 data was published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases and further supports the...

20 mar 2019
Merck , known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NGM) today announced that Merck has exercised its option to extend the research phase of the companies' broad, strategic collaboration...

20 mar 2019
The shareholders in Sandvik Aktiebolag are convened to the Annual General Meeting to be held on Monday, 29 April 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at the Göransson Arena, Sätragatan 21, Sandviken, Sweden. RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AND NOTICE Shareholders who wish to...

20 mar 2019
The Oslo Business for Peace Award is given to inspiring business leaders who have put society first. 2019's winners are: Dr Agbor Ashumanyi Ako, medical director of GiftedMom, Alice Laugher, CEO of Committed to...

19 mar 2019
The evolving competitive market has made it essential for the telecommunication industry to rethink traditional ways of doing business in terms of the impact on business models, service portfolios and technical architectures. Digital business support...



News published on and distributed by: