EBOLA: Government won’t close border markets, schools

ARUA. Schools and markets at the border points in West Nile will not be closed due to Ebola scare, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has said.
This is after a case of Ebola was reported in Ariwara, a town in DR Congo that borders Arua district.
According to health authorities in the area, the woman escaped from a quarantine in Beni and moved to Ariwara town where she died two days ago.
The incident has created panic among Ugandans since Ariwara town is a common place for traders who come from West Nile.
“There should be surveillance should safe guard the border markets and schools. We cannot halt activities; we cannot stop markets or schools. The communities should be responsible and give credible information to the health workers,” Dr Aceng said.
She directed the Surveillance officers to be vigilant, noting that within one week, they would start vaccinating frontline health workers in West Nile because they are more at risk since they handle patients.
As a result of the Ebola death report in Ariwara, the hotels, Banks and Arua Regional Referral hospital have set up hand washing buckets for the clients.
The District Health Officer for Arua, Dr Bishop Drileba, said health workers have been trained on how to handle and report any emergency cases of Ebola.
“Currently, we do not have any case of Ebola here. But we are prepared for any eventuality and we expect the partners to be transparent and account for the funds that they use for any responses,” he said.
On Thursday, a team from Ministry of Health, district leaders and World Health Organisation toured the border areas to assess the risks. The West Nile region has over 600 illegal routes and this makes it prone for spread of diseases.
Screenings are only done at designated border points like Vurra, Goli and Padea customs.