Traders on Congo border count losses over Ebola
Prevention. Patients and visitors at Arua Regional Referral Hospital wash hands with a disinfectant as prevention against Ebola yesterday. PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM OKELLO
What you need to know:
- Mr Muki said Ituri has been hit most by Ebola, followed by North Kivu as per World Health Organisation (WHO) report released on September 25.
- He said they have urged officials of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) to discuss the Ebola issue broadly since it has affected the country’s trade and commerce.
Traders operating on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Nebbi District are counting losses due to the persistent Ebola epidemic.
Traders say they no longer do business normally because they fear to get infected by the contagious disease that has left hundreds dead and scores hospitalised in DRC.
Ms Grace Acikane, a trader, says: “We cannot do businesses freely because there are many people who come to the market. We ask the countries neighbouring Congo to do more screening so that people can be able to trade freely.”
She adds that Ugandan traders have abandoned Mahagi Town in DRC for fear of contracting the deadly disease.
The trade minister for Ituri Province in DRC, Mr Ezekiel Muki, on Tuesday said they are losing a lot of revenue as a result of the disease.
Mr Muki said Ituri has been hit most by Ebola, followed by North Kivu as per World Health Organisation (WHO) report released on September 25.
He said they have urged officials of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) to discuss the Ebola issue broadly since it has affected the country’s trade and commerce.
“We have lost businesses due to the continued Ebola cases being reported. There is a need to fight Ebola collectively since it is a global epidemic,” Mr Muki said.
WHO says as of October 7, 2,144 had died of Ebola in DRC while 1,019 are still under care.
The Nebbi Resident District Commissioner, Mr Christopher Omara, said the problem of fighting Ebola should not be left to health experts alone. “As we are all aware of Ebola cases in DRC, all the business partners doing business with DRC must conform to the health instructions whether from Uganda or DRC,” Mr Omara said on Tuesday.
He asked businessmen from both Uganda and DRC to cooperate when being screened at border points.
