By Joyce Nakato

Kampala, Uganda – As Mpox rages in Sub-Saharan Africa, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is stepping up support to the Ugandan Government to contain the latest outbreak of the viral disease.

According to the Migration Health Programme Officer Caroline Akullo Ogwok, IOM Uganda has so far collaborated with the Ministry of Health to boost surveillance capacities at 21 border posts. IOM has handed over Infection Prevention and Control supplies (IPCs) including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) amounting to $25000 to support Uganda’s response to the Mpox outbreak.

IOM’s interventions are guided by the Organization’s Health, Border and Mobility Management (HBMM) framework, which aims to improve prevention, detection and response to health threats.  
During a Cross-Border Meeting on Mpox Outbreak in Africa on 28 October, IOM Uganda Chief of Mission Sanusi Tejan Savage reiterated IOM’s commitment to supporting the country’s response to public health threats. He said IOM’s Mpox preparedness and response plan specifically targets migrants, IDPs, highly mobile populations, and cross-border and host communities. 

“IOM, as a lead Agency for Ports of Entry (PoEs), has established the PoE sub-pillar Technical Working Group (TWG) in partnership with Africa CDC and WHO, to support Member States in strengthening capacities at PoEs in terms of preparedness and response,” Mr Savage said in a speech read for him by Dr Risatul Islam, IOM Uganda’s Chief Migration Health Officer.

IOM has also supported the integrated training of 182 border stakeholders, including health workers, as well as security, Uganda Revenue Authority, and immigration officials. The training at the border posts of Busanza, Bunagana, Kyanika and Elegu, covered disease surveillance, infection prevention, and case management.  

Additionally, 825 Village Health Teams in the border communities of Kisoro and Elegu have also been trained on Community Event-Based Surveillance (CEBS) to aid in early detection and reporting of suspected Mpox cases.

To support risk communication, IOM has produced at least 2,500 posters and banners in seven languages, which are being distributed to the most vulnerable communities. Earlier, in July, IOM had donated 21 Television screens to various border posts. These are now being used to broadcast audio-visual messages on Mpox, targeting travelers going through the border posts.

 
IOM is further supporting the screening of Mpox through the already existing thermal scanners procured during the Ebola Virus Disease response. To date, some 30,000 people have been screened and reached through the dissemination of risk communication messages.

Since August 2024, IOM has been responding to the recent Mpox outbreak in Africa and the number of confirmed cases has risen sharply from over 2,800 in 12 countries to more than 9,300 in 34 countries as of 20 October 2024. In Uganda, by 31 October, 222 cumulative cases and one death had been confirmed. 

In response to the escalating numbers, IOM is appealing for USD 27.8 million to protect and support migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPS), and mobile populations in Africa.    

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For more information / media enquiries, please contact IOM Uganda Public Information Officer Richard M Kavuma. Email: rmkavuma@iom.int   and  ugandapiu@iom.int | Tel +256 312 263 210 / +256 772 709 917.