Members of the Adjumani District Ebola Taskforce, officials from the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and implementing partners on Thursday conducted an impromptu inspection at Awindiri Market, the largest and busiest market in Adjumani Town Council, to assess community preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
The visit was aimed at evaluating public awareness about Ebola, adherence to preventive measures, and the community’s readiness to respond in case of an outbreak.
Speaking during the exercise, Emmanuel Okware, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, said the taskforce, which meets every Thursday, had resolved to conduct spot checks in public places to assess community understanding of the disease.
“We decided to visit busy public places such as markets to establish how well people understand the risks associated with Ebola, how the disease spreads, and the level of preparedness within the community to prevent it,” Okware said.
He added that the team was also assessing compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including hand hygiene practices and timely reporting of suspected cases.
“Markets attract many people from different locations, making them potential hotspots for disease transmission. We want to ensure that vendors and customers alike are observing preventive measures,” he said.
At Awindiri Market, vendors acknowledged receiving Ebola awareness messages from district health officials but cited inadequate preventive facilities as a major challenge.
Pius Eruwaga, Chairperson of the Awindiri Market Vendors Association, said district health teams had conducted sensitisation activities at the market about a week earlier.
“The vendors are aware of Ebola, its signs, symptoms, and how it can be prevented. We appreciate the sensitisation that was conducted here recently,” Eruwaga said.
However, he noted that the market lacks adequate handwashing facilities.
“Our biggest challenge is the lack of handwashing stations. We need support to ensure all market users can regularly wash their hands and observe the recommended SOPs,” he added.
Meanwhile, officials from the Office of the Prime Minister revealed that 47 asylum seekers have been quarantined at Nyumanzi Refugee Reception Centre in Dzaipi Sub-county as a precautionary measure.
An OPM official said the asylum seekers are being monitored closely and provided with essential support.
Security personnel have also intensified patrols along porous border points between Uganda and South Sudan to prevent unauthorised entries that could increase disease risks.
Wilson Drici, the Adjumani District Health Inspector, said the district has intensified public health awareness campaigns to ensure communities remain vigilant.
“We have scaled up community sensitisation through outreach programmes, engagements with local leaders, and radio talk shows to ensure accurate information reaches all residents,” Drici said.
He urged residents to report suspected cases promptly and avoid spreading misinformation.
Representing the Ministry of Health, John Bosco Basajjasubi, a Community Engagement Officer attached to the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (NPHEOC), said markets remain a key focus area in disease prevention because of the large numbers of people they attract daily.
“Marketplaces attract huge gatherings of people from different communities and districts. This makes them important centres for public health interventions and risk communication,” Basajjasubi said.
He encouraged vendors and market users to remain alert and strictly follow preventive guidelines.
“Community vigilance is key. Early detection, prompt reporting, and adherence to hygiene practices are essential in preventing the spread of Ebola and other infectious diseases,” he added.
The spot-check exercise is part of ongoing district and national efforts to strengthen Ebola preparedness and response systems, particularly in border districts such as Adjumani that host large refugee populations and experience significant cross-border movement.