The Uganda Red Cross Society has trained 200 Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Rubanda District to strengthen community awareness and preparedness against Ebola.
According to Kobugabe Joanita, Communication Officer, Rubanda District Local Government, the two-day training, held from September 28 to 29 at Hamurwa Church of Uganda in Hamurwa Town Council, equipped the VHTs with knowledge and skills to sensitise communities about Ebola prevention and control.
Jimmy Mugasha, the Uganda Red Cross Society Kabale Branch manager, said the initiative is aimed at supporting the district to strengthen community preparedness, awareness and response to Ebola.
“We have so far oriented 86 community stakeholders, including district and religious leaders, and trained 200 VHTs who will take Ebola prevention messages to communities,” Mugasha said.
He said the VHTs will spend five days collecting information from households, schools, places of worship and markets to identify community concerns and strengthen Ebola awareness.
The information, he said, will also be used to promote positive behavioural change and help communities adopt measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
The intervention is being implemented in Rubanda, Kabale and Rukiga districts as part of efforts to strengthen community-level preparedness and response to Ebola.
Mugasha said the Uganda Red Cross Society continues to support local governments through interventions such as blood donation drives, disaster management and emergency response.
He also said the organisation plans to establish an office in Rubanda District to bring its services closer to communities and strengthen support to the district.
The training is part of ongoing efforts to equip community health structures with accurate information on Ebola prevention and ensure communities are prepared to respond to potential outbreaks.
