By Sharon Onyango
Health workers from Gem and Alego Usonga Sub-Counties have undergone training on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as Siaya County strengthens its preparedness and capacity to respond to potential public health emergencies.
The training was conducted through a partnership between the Siaya County Department of Health and Sanitation and Amref Health Africa, through the Imarisha Jamii Project, with a focus on equipping healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills required to prevent, detect and respond effectively to Ebola and other emerging infectious disease threats.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe viral illness that affects humans and non-human primates and can cause serious illness and death. Given the potential for rapid transmission, early detection, timely reporting and strict infection prevention and control measures are critical in containing outbreaks.
The training equipped participants with knowledge on EVD identification, surveillance, notification and response, including recognizing suspected cases and ensuring that alerts are reported promptly through established public health channels.
A key focus was infection prevention and control (IPC), with health workers taken through appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and safe handling of patients and potentially infectious materials.
Participants also covered contact tracing and monitoring, safe specimen collection and referral, patient management, and safe and dignified management of deaths and burials. The sessions emphasized the importance of having functional surveillance and referral systems at health facilities to facilitate rapid action whenever a suspected case is identified.
The training further highlighted the need for health facilities to maintain adequate preparedness, including identifying appropriate isolation spaces, ensuring availability of essential supplies and PPE, and strengthening coordination among healthcare workers, surveillance teams, laboratories and community structures.
Beyond clinical preparedness, the health workers were introduced to mental health and psychosocial support during public health emergencies. Through Psychological First Aid (PFA), participants learned the Look, Listen and Link approach to support individuals experiencing distress and connect them with appropriate services.
The sessions also emphasized risk-based prioritization of essential health services, ensuring that critical healthcare services continue during an outbreak while protecting patients and healthcare workers from infection.
The collaboration between the County Department of Health and Sanitation and Amref Health Africa through the Imarisha Jamii Project demonstrates the importance of partnerships in strengthening health system resilience and emergency preparedness.
By enhancing the capacity of frontline health workers in Gem and Alego Usonga, the initiative contributes to Siaya County’s readiness to detect and respond to EVD threats while safeguarding communities and maintaining essential health services.
The training reinforces a critical public health message: early detection, prompt reporting, effective Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and coordinated action are essential in preventing the spread of Ebola.