Reaching the last mile for mpox amidst noise and risk
RCCE strategy recognized that to cut through the clutter, it wasn’t just about volume, it was about relevance, trust, and manoeuvre.
In the heart of Kampala’s urban settlements like Kisenyi and Nankulabye, where daily survival overshadows health concerns, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) has emerged as a lifeline in the fight against mpox. These densely populated areas marked by informal settlements, transient populations, and limited access to health services represent the “extended mile” in public health messaging, where cluttered environments and misinformation threaten progress.
UNICEF and partners adopted a multi-layered RCCE approach to break through the noise. This included targeted interpersonal communication led by Village Health Teams (VHTs), extended community activations such as camel rides and mobile caravans, loudspeaker announcements, and drama skits staged in trading centres, taxi parks, and informal markets.
Health education posters and leaflets were translated into local languages and strategically placed where risk populations such as boda boda riders, truck drivers, and commercial sex workers converge.
For these high-risk groups, the sexually transmitted aspect of mpox was initially met with denial, stigma, and misinformation. Survivors shared how symptoms starting with a rash and fever were mistaken for common infections, or worse, linked to witchcraft or divine punishment. RCCE activities gave these voices a platform, turning personal testimonies into powerful tools for shifting risk perception. As survivors told their stories at community dialogues and on local radio, fear began to morph into vigilance.
Local leaders, particularly local council one chairpersons, played a crucial role in normalizing the conversation around mpox. They worked with health workers to dispel myths, organize community barazas, and coordinate with their teams to reinforce health messages. VHTs moved door-to-door, bridging the trust gap, especially in communities where the health system had historically been absent or distrusted.
“We always deployed our teams to ensure that everyone not only knows but participates in the prevention efforts.”
Community influencers like boda boda (motorcyclist) men and local radio stations further amplified the RCCE messages, translating health messages into relatable language and using humour, storytelling, and street slang to resonate with younger, mobile populations. In Kisenyi, Denis Sekabembe, a boda rider, mentioned; “Nze ntema kyange sikya lya walala,” implying reduced sexual activity to prevent himself from contracting mpox.
At busy truck stops and commercial sex worker hotspots, these influencers were trained to distribute information, condoms, and referral guidance, addressing the dual risks of mpox alongside HIV.
The RCCE strategy recognized that to cut through the clutter, it wasn’t just about volume, it was about relevance, trust, and manoeuvre. And while the journey is far from over, the increasing number of people seeking information, reporting symptoms, and accessing care shows that community-centred RCCE is working. It is turning whispers of disease into shouts for prevention, one boda rider, one survivor, one truck driver at a time.
