The Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) outbreak cast fear over Ntoroko, a district characterized by dense population and high mobility that increased the risk of rapid spread.
An alert was raised following the burial of a probable case in the district, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated response involving heightened contact tracing and awareness creation to protect the community from any possible threat and further spread of the disease.
Ritah, 14, a primary seven pupil at Karugutu Primary School, spoke to UNICEF’s Edmond Mwebembezi about her experience and the impact of the activities to tackle SVD in her community.
Edmond: Ritah, thank you for speaking with us. Can you tell us what it was like in your village when you first heard about the Ebola outbreak?
Ritah: It was scary. At first, it was just quiet talks between the adults, but then everyone seemed worried. You could feel the fear in the air. We didn't really understand the sickness, just that it was dangerous. It felt like something big and bad was coming closer.
Edmond: How was the school involved in helping the community understand and respond to the outbreak?
Ritah: Our school became a very important place. Teams came from the Ministry of Health, working with people from UNICEF. They didn't just talk to the grown-ups; they came to the schools and talked to us, the students. Our headteacher, Mr. Baluku David allowed them to talk to the teachers and learners and it made us feel important that they wanted us to know.
Edmond: What did you learn about Ebola in school?
Ritah: We learned so much! They taught us what the sickness is, how it spreads, and what signs to look for. It wasn't a scary monster anymore; it was something we could learn about. We learned about symptoms like vomiting and bleeding. And they taught us how it spreads. We learned the causes of Ebola are sharing clothes with an infected person, getting into contact with saliva or blood of an infected person. Knowing this helped us understand how to protect ourselves.
Edmond: Were your teachers prepared to teach you about this?
Ritah: Yes. The teams trained our teachers first and they passed the information about Ebola, how it is spread, the signs and how we can control Ebola. Because the teachers knew, they could keep reminding us every day. They gave us pictures and posters from UNICEF to help us remember the important things, like washing our hands.
Edmond: Was the information shared beyond your school?
Ritah: Yes, it went everywhere! We, the students, would go home and tell our families what we learned. Our teachers kept reminding us. We were well equipped with the information. And I think it is the reason why today we have not had any other case from the community.
Edmond: We heard that health teams and Village Health Teams (VHTs) also conducted house-to-house visits. Did you see this?
Ritah: Yes, I did. People from the health teams, sometimes with VHTs from our own village, visited many houses, even my home. They talked to families about the sickness and how to stay safe. They also talked to people in the markets, at the mosque, and even the boda-boda riders. It felt like everyone in the community was learning together.
Edmond: There were challenges with people being afraid of those who had been near someone sick. How did the community deal with that?
Ritah: It was difficult at first. Some people were scared when others who had been in contact with the sick person came back after being checked by the doctors. But the health teams helped us understand that being sick or being near someone sick doesn't make you a bad person. They helped people talk about it and learn not to be afraid of each other. They taught us to be kind and supportive to those who had gone to hospital and recovered.
Edmond: How do you feel now, compared to when you first heard about the outbreak?
Ritah: I feel much safer now. We still have to be careful and remember what we learned, like washing our hands. But the fear is not as strong because we understand the sickness and how to protect ourselves.
Edmond: What do you think made the biggest difference in your community's fight against Ebola?
Ritah: I think it was everyone working together and sharing information. The Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, and the district leaders all helped. When everyone helped teach and share information, it made our community stronger. Knowing the truth and helping each other is the best way to fight something scary like this.
Edmond: Thank you, Ritah, for sharing your experience.
Ritah: You are welcome.
Rita’s experiences reflect the joint collaboration between the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO to contain the spread of SVD and fight stigma among the communities.
