Build A Permanent Hub to Empower Communities

Dear Donor,

Thanks to your generous support, Development Alert has continued strengthening community awareness and preparedness in vulnerable communities connected to the Uganda–Democratic Republic of Congo border.

The Ebola emergency has demonstrated the importance of strong community-level preparedness. Development Alert's role has focused on awareness creation, hygiene promotion, risk communication, encouraging early reporting, reducing misinformation and stigma, and connecting communities with appropriate health information.

Border communities face unique challenges because people frequently move between communities for trade, employment, family responsibilities, and access to services. This makes trusted community communication particularly important during an outbreak.

Our outreach emphasizes practical prevention behaviors and encourages people who develop concerning symptoms to seek appropriate medical attention promptly rather than relying on misinformation or delaying care.

We also recognize the importance of protecting vulnerable groups, including children, elderly people, traders, transport workers, and families living in high-movement communities.

Your support enables Development Alert to remain engaged at the grassroots level and complement the work of government and public-health partners.

Thank you for standing with communities during public health emergencies. Your generosity is helping strengthen preparedness, promote accurate information, and protect families.

Dear donor,

Uganda's successful conclusion of the 2026 Ebola outbreak marks the beginning of a new phase of work: transforming emergency response capacity into lasting community resilience. Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases, with 18 recoveries and two deaths. Fifteen cases were imported from the DRC, highlighting the importance of cross-border preparedness even after Uganda successfully stopped transmission.

The continuing emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo makes this transition particularly important. Recent reports indicate that the DRC outbreak has exceeded 5,500 confirmed cases and 2,700 deaths. Children, displaced families, healthcare workers, and communities with limited access to health services remain particularly vulnerable.

Development Alert is therefore maintaining the community structures strengthened during the outbreak. Volunteers continue sharing health information, community leaders remain connected to local health facilities, and grassroots networks are being maintained so that unusual health events can be reported quickly.

Our interventions also extend to schools and other community institutions. Teachers and youth leaders can help ensure that accurate information reaches children and households. Transport workers and traders remain important partners because they connect communities and can help circulate reliable public health messages.

We continue promoting hygiene practices and encouraging communities to avoid stigma. During an outbreak, fear and misinformation can become major barriers to early reporting and treatment. Building trust is therefore just as important as providing physical resources.

The field motorcycle remains available for rapid community mobilization, follow-up, awareness activities, contact-tracing readiness, and delivery of essential supplies.

Uganda's Ebola-free declaration is a victory for communities, health workers, volunteers, and partners. Development Alert is committed to preserving that victory while strengthening preparedness along the border and standing in solidarity with communities still battling Ebola in the DRC.

With continued donor support, today's emergency response investments can become tomorrow's permanent community protection systems.