Arua, August 23rd, 2026 (CPA).- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda have agreed to strengthen their cross-border health cooperation to better contain the Ebola virus disease, following a joint coordination meeting, has announced on Saturday. the provincial coordinator of the National Border Health Programme (PNHF) for Ituri, in the north-east of the country. « The two countries must strengthen surveillance on both sides of the border, ensure the search and follow-up of contacts who have crossed the border, and guarantee the continuity of their care, in order to avoid any disruption in the response mechanism, » has indicated Dr.
Theophile Ponde. « ‘The participants at this three-day conference, held in Arua in north-western in Uganda, have also recommended the improvement of the rapid sharing of alerts and epidemiological information between health teams in both countries, particularly when a suspected case or a contact is identified on the other side of the border,’ he has continued. Dr Ponde has explained that the meeting has also emphasised the need for harmonisation of risk communication messages in border communities, in order to reduce rumours, combat misinformation and encourage community involvement in disease surveillance.
These commitments form part of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed on June 23rd, 2026, between DRC and Uganda, with follow-up meetings announced in Kampala and Oima, in Uganda, to consolidate the mechanisms agreed upon in Arua.