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As Uganda prepares to commemorate Martyrs Day at Namugongo, health authorities are on high alert amid concerns over a cholera outbreak ravaging several neighbouring countries.
The Ministry of Health has intensified measures to manage any potential disease outbreaks during the large gathering, strengthening the capacity of health workers to respond promptly and effectively.
Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng assured the public that no health workers at referral centres in Namugongo have contracted any contagious diseases, including the recent MPOX cases in Uganda.
She said, however, that the rapidly spreading cholera epidemic in neighbouring countries is a cause of concern.
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“We are very cognisant of the fact that there is a big cholera outbreak in Africa,” she said.
“Currently, it is affecting four countries, and some of those countries will send pilgrims here in Namugongo.”
Cholera’s Deadly Spread in the Region
Cholera has recently caused fatalities and illness in Sudan, claiming 172 lives and infecting over 2,500 people within just one week.
The outbreak centres around Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman, where returning displaced Sudanese face collapsed health and sanitation infrastructure, relying on contaminated water sources that fuel the disease’s spread.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also confirmed cholera cases in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, and South Sudan.
Known as a “disease of poverty,” cholera thrives in conditions of poor sanitation and unsafe water.
The bacterium Vibrio cholerae, transmitted through contaminated food or water, causes diarrhoea that can be mild or, in severe, untreated cases, fatal within hours.
Though treatable with rehydration and antibiotics, the disease remains a major health threat in affected regions.
Ongoing Surveillance and Preventive Measures at Namugongo
Minister Aceng revealed that the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is rigorously testing all water sources at the Martyrs site.
A dedicated team of epidemiologists is conducting continuous surveillance for various diseases, ready to detect any symptoms for all diseases cholera and MPOX.