Support Community-Led Ebola Containment in Uganda

Dear Donor,

Uganda's Ebola-free declaration is a moment of enormous relief for communities across the country. After 20 confirmed cases and an intensive national response, Uganda completed the required monitoring period without identifying new infections. The success demonstrates the importance of rapid detection, contact tracing, community engagement, infection prevention, and strong coordination between health authorities and communities.

For communities living close to the Democratic Republic of Congo, however, the end of Uganda's outbreak does not mean that preparedness can stop. The DRC continues experiencing active transmission, with confirmed infections exceeding 3,000 according to recent reporting.

Development Alert is continuing to work with border communities to ensure that the knowledge gained during the outbreak remains active. Community meetings continue emphasizing early reporting of unusual illness, cooperation with health workers, appropriate hygiene practices, and the importance of seeking reliable information instead of relying on rumors.

Schools, markets, transport stages, places of worship, and other community gathering points remain valuable platforms for preparedness messaging. Boda boda operators and traders are also important partners because they regularly move between communities and can help disseminate accurate information.

Our approach is no longer simply emergency response. We are building a culture of permanent preparedness in which communities understand their role in protecting public health.

The experience of Uganda shows that decisive action can prevent an outbreak from becoming a national catastrophe. Your continued support allows us to preserve these gains while helping vulnerable border communities remain prepared for potential imported infections and other future health threats.