FOR $10 HELP HEALTH SYSTEMS RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE

Currently there is an outbreak of Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo and some cases have been imported into Uganda where about five health workers have been infected Ebola disease (formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal viral illness in humans and non-human primates. Caused by a group of viruses, it primarily affects multiple organs, damages blood vessels, and disrupts the body's ability to clot, leading to internal and external bleeding. It spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people or animals (such as fruit bats and non-human primates). You cannot catch it by breathing the air or from simply being near an infected person. Mortality rates range between 25% to 90% depending on the specific virus strain and access to early supportive care Symptoms usually appear 2 to 21 days after exposure, with an average of 8 to 10 days. The illness typically progresses in two stages, Sudden onset of high fever, intense fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and a sore throat and then    Progresses to vomiting, diarrhea, a rash, and impaired kidney and liver function. In severe cases, patients experience unexplained internal and external bleeding (e.g., bleeding from the gums or blood in stool There is no single standard cure for all strains of the virus, though approved treatments and vaccines exist for specific variants (like the Zaire virus). Medical care heavily relies on supportive therapy—such as providing intravenous fluids, maintaining blood pressure, and treating other infections to help patients. The easiest way to screen people for Ebola disease before it becomes advanced is through temperature screening because the patients have persistent high fever. Our team is helping to screen people at the boarder crossings but we lack logistical support. Limited sanitizers inadequate hand washing facilities. We are appealing for more support to help us to scale up the screening.

Kigezi Healthcare Foundation has trained 35 peer mother to help promote safe motherhood. Maternal mortality is still very high in Uganda estimated at at around 200 per 100,000 live births (2022 figures).Maternal deaths in Uganda are primarily driven by preventable causes, with over 80% considered avoidable, including obstetric hemorrhage (34–46%), hypertensive disorders/eclampsia (13–28%), sepsis (17–30%), and unsafe abortions. These deaths are heavily influenced by the "three delays" model: delays in seeking care, reaching facilities, and receiving adequate, timely care. Obstetric haemorrhage (bleeding) is the leading cause (up to 46% of cases), often due to lack of blood, supplies, or delays in management. Hypertensive disorders take the second place with many cases occurring in women referred from other facilities. Other causes include sepsis and infection often linked to poor hygiene during delivery or complications from unsafe abortion.Cultral factors like lack of education or limited decision making power for women lead to delays in seeking care. Empowerment of peer mothers plays a very big role in reducing some of these challenges. peer mothers or expert clints play a critical role in reducing maternal deaths in Uganda by bridging the gap between communities and health facilities, improving health-seeking behaviors, and providing social support. They are trained, experienced mothers who mentor pregnant women and new mothers to promote safe motherhood. 

  Peer mothers encourage early and regular antenatal care visits, which are essential for identifying danger signs before they become fatal. They also promote facility-based deliveries and follow-up, crucial for preventing complications during labor. In rural Uganda, peer-mother counseling has been associated with significant improvements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, rising from 68% to 93% over 12 months, which helps prevent maternal deaths related to HIV. They educate pregnant women on how to recognize danger signs (such as high fever, severe headache, or bleeding) and assist in creating birth plans to ensure timely access to skilled, facility-based care, Peer mothers facilitate community dialogue meetings, educate on child nutrition, and encourage male partner involvement, which is vital for overcoming economic and logistical barriers to seeking care, They track pregnant women in their communities and link them to health facilities, ensuring that high-risk pregnancies are identified early and referred for appropriate care and they also perform follow-up visits to ensure postpartum women and newborns receive care during the critical first few days after birth. 

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