Disaster Response Uganda Project #76349

Protect Uganda-DRC Border Communities from Ebola

by Development Alert

Protect Uganda-DRC Border Communities from Ebola

Project Report | Sep 15, 2026
Expanding Infection Prevention and Control at C

By Zachery Onyango | Project Leader

Dear Donor,

The continuing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is demonstrating how important infection prevention and control are in protecting communities and health workers. With the latest data showing 7,200 confirmed cases and 3,475 deaths as of 12 September, preventing additional transmission remains an urgent priority.

Development Alert continues promoting practical infection-prevention measures among rural communities, schools, public gathering points and other locations where people interact frequently.

Our preparedness activities emphasize regular hand hygiene, appropriate cleaning and disinfection, responsible management of potentially contaminated materials, early reporting of suspected illness and cooperation with health professionals.

We also recognize that infection prevention cannot be limited to hospitals. Communities need access to information and basic hygiene facilities before an emergency reaches a treatment center.

Our work therefore includes health education sessions that help families understand how infections can spread and why appropriate hygiene practices are important. We encourage schools and community institutions to maintain handwashing facilities and promote good hygiene behavior among children and adults.

We also engage transport workers and other people who move frequently between communities. Their daily interactions can make them important partners in health promotion.

Protection of healthcare workers is another critical component. Health workers are often among the first people exposed during an outbreak. Supporting awareness of appropriate infection-prevention practices helps protect both frontline personnel and the communities they serve.

The response in the DRC is also being expanded through decentralized treatment services so that patients can receive care closer to affected communities. WHO has emphasized the need for additional treatment capacity and trained personnel as the outbreak continues.

Development Alert believes prevention must begin before a person reaches a hospital.

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Sep 14, 2026
Strengthening Community Surveillance and Early Det

By Zachery Onyango | Project Leader

Dear Donor,

The Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to require urgent and sustained action. The latest ECDC situation update reports 7,200 confirmed cases and 3,475 deaths as of 12 September 2026, with 923 patients hospitalized in isolation. The scale of the outbreak demonstrates why early detection and community-based surveillance remain essential.

Development Alert continues strengthening preparedness at community level by encouraging people to report unusual illness quickly and seek appropriate medical attention rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe. Our community-based approach complements formal surveillance systems by ensuring that health concerns can be communicated quickly from villages, schools, markets, transport points and households to appropriate health authorities.

We are engaging community leaders, volunteers, teachers, women, youth, boda boda riders, traders and other trusted groups who can recognize concerns and help connect families with health services.

Our awareness activities emphasize that community members should not attempt to diagnose Ebola themselves. Instead, they should understand the importance of promptly reporting suspected cases and following guidance from trained health professionals.

We are also working to reduce misinformation. During outbreaks, rumors can spread faster than reliable information and may cause fear, stigma or dangerous delays in seeking care. Trusted community voices therefore remain an important part of preparedness.

The continuing expansion of Ebola in the DRC makes these efforts particularly important. WHO reports that transmission has expanded to 61 health zones, while recent reporting indicates a new affected province in western DRC.

For Development Alert, preparedness means ensuring that communities are not passive recipients of emergency information. They are active partners in protecting families and identifying risks early.

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Sep 14, 2026
Responding to the Rapidly Growing Ebola Emergency

By Zachery Onyango | Project Leader

Dear Donor,

The Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to require urgent and sustained action. According to the latest ECDC update, DRC reported 7,200 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,475 related deaths as of 12 September 2026, with 923 patients hospitalized in isolation. This represents a substantial increase from the previous reporting period and demonstrates the continuing intensity of transmission.

For Development Alert, these developments reinforce the importance of keeping communities prepared even after Uganda successfully ended its own Ebola outbreak.

Our community-led preparedness activities focus on ensuring that people understand how to recognize potential health risks, where to seek assistance and why early reporting matters. We continue emphasizing hygiene, responsible health-seeking behavior, accurate information and cooperation with health authorities.

Particular attention is given to communities along and around the Uganda–DRC border. People living in these areas frequently interact through trade, transportation, family relationships and other social connections. This makes strong communication networks essential.

Development Alert also continues using its field mobility to reach rural communities with awareness messages and preparedness activities. The field motorcycle allows teams and volunteers to travel more efficiently, conduct community meetings, follow up alerts and deliver educational materials.

The latest regional situation demonstrates that Ebola preparedness cannot be treated as a short-term campaign. It requires continuous community engagement and the ability to respond quickly when circumstances change.

Uganda's successful containment provides an important example of what coordinated surveillance, contact tracing, community participation and rapid response can achieve.

We are determined to preserve those gains while strengthening preparedness among vulnerable communities.

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