Day 6 of the Active Case Search: Strengthening Surveillance Efforts
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by
AFENET
The sixth day of the active Ebola case search began with a strategic debrief led by Dr. Daniel Kadobera and Mr. Benard Lubwama at the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH). The session focused on refining search methodologies, reviewing previous challenges, and outlining the day’s objectives to ensure an efficient and systematic approach.
Following the briefing, the team was divided into three groups, each assigned to different locations within the buffer zone surrounding the reference point. Their core activities included reviewing medical records, verifying suggestive cases across all visited facilities, and documenting key findings for the final report.
Expanding the Search: Coverage and Key Findings
- Team 1 covered an area extending from Jjokolera to Katadde village, visiting a total of seven health facilities to assess patient records and trace potential cases.
- Team 2 focused on Kawanda Parish in Nabweru Division, conducting thorough reviews in six health facilities to identify any unreported cases.
- Team 3 returned to Bombo Military Hospital to access medical records that had been unavailable on Day 5 due to the weekend closure. They also followed up on two alerts where initial data had been incomplete.
Challenges and Notable Incidents
- At one facility, the in-charge proactively contacted the Ministry of Health (MoH) to verify the legitimacy of the active case search team before granting access to medical records, demonstrating increased vigilance in health facilities.
- Another facility’s designated contact person claimed that no medical records were available, forcing the team to proceed to the next location without conducting a review.
Summary of Day 6 Achievements
By the end of the day, the teams had:- Visited 10 health facilities
- Reviewed 1,911 medical records
- Identified 255 suggestive cases
- Flagged 17 alerts for further investigation
- 11 individuals were successfully contacted and confirmed to be alive
- 4 cases had no available contact information
- 1 case had an incorrect phone number
- 1 case did not respond to calls
Conclusion
Day 6 of the active case search reinforced the importance of systematic record reviews, proactive follow-ups, and close collaboration with health facility personnel. Despite challenges such as restricted access to records in certain facilities, the teams remained committed to identifying and tracking potential Ebola cases. These efforts continue to enhance Uganda’s surveillance capacity, ensuring early detection and response to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks.
