Red Cross, UNICEF sensitise communities and schools in Western Uganda about Ebola
Reaching all with key prevention messages
A group of men and women working in a stone quarry in Kyabwire village in Kabarole district take time off to listen to Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) volunteers who are conducting house-house sensitization about Ebola.
After the sensitization exercise, Mary Munihizi explains that through the sessions, they have learnt about Ebola transmission, how to prevent it, the signs and symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease. Munihizi demonstrated to his workmates the process of washing hands. “We were told not to eat dead animals. If we come across a suspected case, we were told not to touch the person but instead notify the authorities,” she says.
Ibrahim Posumbiri, a herbalist in Mirami I village, Kasese District, says he treats about 20-30 people in Uganda and DRC daily and appreciated Red Cross for the house-house sessions which have equipped them with knowledge on Ebola prevention.
He threw the audience comprising men, women and children into laughter when he requested for a thermometer and very long gloves that cover the entire arm. “I want a thermometer so that I detect the temperatures of all those people that come to me. But even without the thermometer, I am now able to look out for signs and symptoms on my patients because Red Cross has been teaching us about Ebola,” he says with a smile.
Supported by UNICEF with funding from UKaid, URCS is educating the communities in Western Uganda about the dangers of Ebola, how its transmitted and prevention methods including effective hand washing. This is done through household visits, sessions at schools and entry points, music, dance and drama, and community dialogues.
The risk communication and social mobilization, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions are part of UNICEF’s support to government’s Ebola preparedness and prevention efforts.
During the sessions, communities are provided with Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and are encouraged to disseminate the information to neighbours and relatives they visit in Democratic Republic of Uganda. Members of the community are also given an opportunity to ask questions which are responded to by the Red Cross volunteers, sub county and district health teams.
Nathan Mugisa, a Red Cross volunteer in Mirami 1 Village, Kasese says on average, they conduct sessions in 25 households.
Franklin Nyakojo, the Karangura Sub County Chief in Kabarole District noted that the communities are very receptive and are willing to learn. “Karangura is a high-risk area. We are bordering Congo and near a national park (Rwenzori Mt. National Park). These community interventions including messages aired on radio have raised awareness about Ebola and our communities are alert,” says Nyakojo.
At a community dialogue in Kazingu Trading Centre, Karangura Sub County, Boniface Bakamwenga told the meeting that they were cautioned against shaking hands to avoid contracting diseases including Ebola and advised to always wash their hands with soap.
Moses Maate, Vice Chairman Mirami village in Kasese revealed that, “Some of our people are eating meat from the parks. We have told them to stop eating dead animals, birds.”
In Nyakibira Village, Arugongo Sub County, Kabarole district, communities have formed a music, dance and drama (MDD) group to sensitise the masses about Ebola. The group has composed songs, poems and plays that depict messages on dangers of Ebola, transmission and prevention including how to handle suspected cases. The drama group also demonstrates how to burry a community member who has died of Ebola.
We realized in some places, the IEC materials are removed so we reactivated the drama group to educate our people. The group was reactive after I was trained by Red Cross on Ebola
During community performances, the instruments are played by Congolese who live within the community. The instruments are borrowed from Kiswa Church of Uganda.
Dennis Mwesigye, URCS Kabarole Branch Manager appealed to community members that attended the MDD sessions to pass on the knowledge to those that were not in attendance. “Through MDD, we have seen our community change their behaviours. This drama group will be moving from one village to another to educate more people and also encourage them to participate in the MDD activities,” he said.
At Nyabugando Primary School in Kabuyiri 1 Village, Kasese District, Primary 7 pupils demonstrated their knowledge on Ebola by responding to all the questions asked by a team from Red Cross and UNICEF.
