Uganda Red Cross, government and partners in Marburg Fever operation

Written by Catherine Ntabadde

Monday, 05 November 2012 08:39

By Ronald Arinaitwe-Branch Manager URCS Kabale Since the outbreak of Marburg fever in Kabale, the district task force formed sub committees to control the disease. The Uganda Red Cross Society Kabale branch  is attached to the social mobilization committee charged with the responsibility of sensitizing the communities about Marburg.   42 URCS branch volunteers were mobilized and have been trained by the district to help in sensitizing the communities.Volunteers engaged.The branch engaged 42 volunteers in this exercise as below:• 14 Red Cross Action Team (RCAT) volunteers were on Thursday 25th trained by Medicines San Frontiers and deployed at the Isolation Centre set up at Rushoroza Health Centre III. • 28 branch volunteers were trained by Health Officers from the District Health Office and are now involved in house to house sensitization exercise in villages and in the 3 divisions of Kabale Municipality. They move with a team of social mobilizers from the district. Community entry The volunteers liaise with the local leaders to penetrate the communities. They move house to house sensitizing the household members about Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever. The involvement of local leaders has helped to build confidence in the communities and also accepting the volunteers to pass on the message to them. Activities done  .•At the isolation centre, the volunteers are engaged in spraying at the different entries of the isolation centre as trained and oriented by MSF Officers. •Volunteers are carrying out door to door household sensitization in villages, wards and divisions allocated to them on daily basis. •On prayer days like Friday, Saturday and Sundays, the volunteers give talks about Marburg in the Mosques and churches. •Distribution and pinning up Information, Education and Communication materials  • Every day 2 meetings are attended in the morning and evening at the District Lukiiko Hall. Safety of the volunteers. All Branch Volunteers participating in this exercise were oriented on the risk of Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever and were also trained by a team of Health Officials before they started working.   At the isolation centre at Rushoroza Health Centre III,  14 volunteers deployed received special training and orientation about the isolation centre by Officials from Medicine San Frontiers, They were all given protective gears such as heavy duty gloves, face masks, gumboots, washing water mixed with jik and soap and also overalls.   All the safety precautions are observed by the volunteers in the field and those working at the isolation centre.  Partners in the Marburg Fever operation  URCS through its Kabale Branch  Medicine San Frontiers  World Health Organization AFENET  World Vision Care Internationa l Ministry of Health  Office of the Prime Minister  Police  Kabale District Political Leader  Local radios

Last Updated on Thursday, 08 November 2012 07:52 http://www.redcrossug.org/component/content/article/1-latest-news/390-uganda-red-cross-government-and-partners-in-marburg-fever-operation.html