Society for AIDS in Africa Concerned Over Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) expresses its concern regarding the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and extends its solidarity to the affected communities, healthcare workers, public health professionals and researchers working tirelessly to contain the outbreak.

 Dr. Richard Nchabi Kamwi, President of Society for AIDS in Africa  said it   welcomed  the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), a critical step in mobilising international coordination, funding and response mechanisms to support affected countries and prevent further spread.

 The society said it  commends  the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, Africa CDC, the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), humanitarian agencies and other international partners that are working around the clock to strengthen surveillance, support contact tracing, isolate confirmed cases, provide clinical care and engage communities. Their efforts are essential in limiting transmission and protecting lives.

They also  urged all countries across Africa to remain vigilant and strengthen preparedness measures. Infectious disease outbreaks do not respect national borders, and effective containment depends on strong surveillance systems, rapid information sharing, coordinated response efforts and sustained public trust.

  SAA said while Africa CDC continues to provide critical leadership in supporting Member States and coordinating continental public health responses, epidemic preparedness cannot rest solely on regional institutions. African Heads of State must individually and collectively prioritise investments in health security and establish stronger systems for epidemic and pandemic preparedness.

 They said this includes strengthening disease surveillance, laboratory networks, healthcare workforce capacity, emergency response systems, infection prevention and control measures, research and innovation, and local manufacturing of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. These investments are not only health priorities but national development and security priorities.

  They added that the lessons from HIV/AIDS, Ebola, COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks have repeatedly demonstrated that preparedness saves lives, protects economies and strengthens resilience. Africa cannot afford to remain reactive. We must build sustainable systems capable of detecting, preventing and responding to public health threats before they become crises.

 The Society for AIDS in Africa also called  for greater collaboration among governments, regional bodies, international partners, researchers and communities to ensure that Africa is better prepared for future epidemics and pandemics.

“The time to invest in preparedness is before the next outbreak, not during it,’ Kamwi said.