The health authorities in Uganda today declared an outbreak of Ebola after a case of the Sudan ebolavirus was confirmed in Mubende district in the central part of the country. 

The Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the case after testing a sample taken from a 24-year-old male. This follows an investigation by the National Rapid Response team of six suspicious deaths that have occurred in the district this month. There are currently eight suspected cases who are receiving care in a health facility.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa said, “This is the first time in more than a decade that Uganda is recording an outbreak of Sudan ebolavirus. We are working closely with the national health authorities to investigate the source of this outbreak while supporting the efforts to quickly roll out effective control measures.

 “Uganda is no stranger to effective Ebola control. Thanks to its expertise, action has been taken to quickly to detect the virus and we can bank on this knowledge to halt the spread of infections.” 

She further added that, “There have been seven previous outbreaks of the Sudan ebolavirus, with four occurring in Uganda and three in Sudan. Uganda last reported an outbreak of Sudan ebolavirus in 2012. In 2019, the country experienced an outbreak of Zaire ebolavirus. The virus was imported from neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo which was battling a large epidemic in its north-eastern region.

“WHO is helping Ugandan health authorities with the investigation and is deploying staff to the affected area. The Organization has dispatched supplies to support the care of patients and is sending a tent that will be used to isolate patients. 

“While ring vaccination of high-risk people with Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) vaccine has been highly effective in controlling the spread of Ebola in recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere, this vaccine has only been approved to protect against the Zaire virus. Another vaccine produced by Johnson and Johnson may be effective but has yet to be specifically tested against Ebola Sudan”.

Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. It has six different species, three of which (Bundibugyo, Sudan and Zaire) have previously caused large outbreaks. Case fatality rates of the Sudan virus have varied from 41% to 100% in past outbreaks. Early initiation of supportive treatment has been shown to significantly reduce deaths from Ebola.

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The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against using drugs without a prescription through the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, highlighting that self-medication poses a greater risk than the condition it is intended to treat.

adding that it is beneficial to have a medical professional perform an examination and make a diagnosis so that the appropriate medication can be administered.

In order to commemorate World Patients Safety Day in Abuja in 2022, Ehanire gave this warning walk that was organized by the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Minister, who was represented by the Director and Head of Hospital Services, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, stated that the purpose of the sensitization walk was to enable the public to inquire about the medications they are receiving.

The Federal government through the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has cautioned Nigerians against using drugs without a prescription, emphasizing that self-medication poses a greater risk than the condition it is intended to treat.

While adding that it is good to be examined by healthcare professionals and diagnosis made so that the right medication can be given.

Ehanire gave this caution walk organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to commemorate the 2022 World Patients Safety Day in Abuja.

The Minister who was represented by the Director and Head of Hospital Services, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi said the sensitization walk became expedient to empower citizery to ask questions on the drugs they are given.

According to him:”We are sensitising the entire populace that it is not enough for you to have headache and you will go and grab Paracetamol or panadol from the pharmacy. Although, it is an out of the counter medication but one still need to have a knowledge of the underlying condition. What is given you that headache? for some people, it may be what they don’t ever think off. It is good for you to be examined by healthcare professionals and diagnosis made so that the correct medication can be given to you.

“The walk is actually to sensitise the entire country and ensuring that even the healthcare professionals too, carry out best practices not just the usual”.

Speaking on sanctions for erring healthcare professionals, Ehanire said that there are regulatory bodies and they know what to do. Once any of these malpractices are reported to the regulatory bodies, action will be taken. For example, at the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, there is an investigative panel and there’s a tribunal that tries cases of malpractice. Anyone found wanting, of course will be sanctions according to the law,” he stated.

Also, Prof. Stephen Abah, a Community Physician at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Oktupo said worldwide , patient safety is taking the center stage, particularly this year that the theme is focused on medication.

He added that , in a country like Nigeria where people can buy over the counter drugs, such obnoxious habit must be discouraged.

According to him , “We need to educate Nigerians The Federal Government has cautioned Nigerians against using drugs without a prescription, emphasizing that self-medication poses a greater risk than the condition it is intended to treat.

“You need to know the drugs you are consuming, the consequences of these drugs.
We need to empower patients, individual families, so that they can ask the right questions.
So, today WHO wants to raise awareness globally, not only in our country, but across the world”, he said.

He said the Bill of Rights for question was one thing, but a policy was needed to drive the action of regulators, government, individuals and stakeholders.

WHO would participate to ensure that for every medication that one takes, anywhere in this country, there are rules or regulations guiding it.

”The bill emphasises on the role of the various stakeholders, government, individuals and families and empower them in terms of increasing their knowledge and also empower them in terms of funding certain aspects of medication safety”, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Ehi Eden, Patients’ Safety Ambassador, Patient Safety Movement Foundation said medication safety has become a very critical issue globally , it is one of the leading causes of death in healthcare, while adding that 50 percent of the death in healthcare is from medication safety.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti hinted that, global estimate shows that medication errors contribute to over three (3) million deaths every year, a situation which has been exacerbated by overwhelmed health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saying, about one in every four cases of preventable medication harm is clinically severe, or life-threatening. While there is limited data for the African continent, it is generally acknowledged that there is a high magnitude of unsafe medication practices.

Moeti gave this hint in her message to commemorate the World Patient Safety Day 2022 with the theme:”The theme for this year, “Medication Safety: Medication Without Harm”, specifically draws attention to the need to improve systems to support safe medication, and address unsafe practices. It focuses on three primary areas, namely: high-risk situations; transitions of care; and polypharmacy, which is the use of multiple medicines at once. Poly pharmacies are particularly common amongst older people with chronic health diseases” .

World Patient Safety Day is marked annually on 17 September, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of people-centred care and preventing harm to patients.

She said ,consequently, patients’ rights to medication without prejudice can be compromised through inappropriate prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, administration and monitoring practices.

According to her: “Medication errors occur most commonly due to weaknesses in medication systems, and are aggravated by shortages of well-trained health staff, and poor working and environmental conditions for delivery of quality health care.

“Among low- and middle-income countries, the African Region has the highest prevalence of substandard and counterfeit medicines (18.7%).
Administration of surplus medication at home, the purchase of medication from pharmacies on the advice of friends and relatives rather than trained professionals, and the use of old prescriptions to buy medication to treat a current ailment, are all common practices that should be avoided.

“One study done in 2021 shows that as many as one in every three respondents admitted to self-medicating to prevent COVID-19. This is unacceptably high because such unguided practices often lead to dangerous consequences as a result of drug interactions, or incorrect administration, dosage or choice of treatment. Consequences include delays in treating diseases, dependence and abuse, disability, and even death. ,
Weak medication systems and/or human factors are the major contributory factors to unsafe practices, with many countries lacking the capacity to detect, evaluate and prevent medicine safety issues. Other contributory factors include fatigue, inadequate knowledge and training, staff shortages, workplace distractions, and high workload and limited resources.
Illiteracy, language difficulties, as well as socio-cultural and religious beliefs, also play a role.

“Based on current estimates, US$ 42 billion of total health expenditure worldwide could be averted if medication errors are addressed. Medication Without Harm aims to reduce severe avoidable medication-related harm by 50% globally in the next five years, through focused activities and interventions targeting three areas: patients and the public; health care professionals; and medicines, systems and medication practices”, she added.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa said , they are working with Member States to implement the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030. A regional patient safety strategy and road map are currently being developed to guide its implementation.

Some notable highlights include support to establish and strengthen national medicine regulatory authorities (NRAs), by building regulatory capacity and promoting regulatory harmonization and cooperation. Strengthened regulatory systems serve to eliminate barriers which impede access to safe, effective and quality assured medical products.

According to her: “WHO developed tools to assist Member States in benchmarking NRAs to identify strengths, and implement plans to address weaknesses. Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania have already attained Maturity Level 3, indicating their regulatory systems are functioning well, and integrating the requisite elements to guarantee stable performance. This reduces their vulnerability to substandard and falsified medical products.

“To date, 39 Member States have developed essential medicines lists linked to standard treatment guidelines, while 25 have developed national medicine formularies that guide selection of medicines for procurement, good prescribing and dispensing practices.

“Efforts to enhance the role of health technologies in medication decision-making, including initiatives to reduce antimicrobial resistance, have led to eight countries being assisted to implement antimicrobial stewardship interventions at national and health care facility level.

“WHO is also supporting overall improvements in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, including injection safety, in all Member States.
The global campaign’s call to action is “KNOW. CHECK. ASK”. It aims to encourage and empower patients and their caregivers, as well as health care professionals (nurses, physicians, pharmacists), to take a more active role in ensuring safer medication practices, and medication-use processes.

“As WHO in the African Region advances efforts towards Universal Health Coverage and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), patient safety will be prioritized through the following interventions: RAISE awareness of the high burden of medication-related harm due to medication errors and unsafe practices, and ADVOCATE for urgent action to improve medication safety; ENGAGE key stakeholders and partners in efforts to prevent medication errors and reduce medication-related harm; EMPOWER patients and families to be actively involved in the safe use of medication; SCALE UP implementation of the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm; and PROMOTE operational research to guide decision-making and adoption, with better behaviour-related medication safety”, she further stated.

She urged all stakeholders to fully commit to implementing the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm, and to accelerate the actions necessary to ensure safe medication practices. The need for accurate data and information to guide future decision-making and optimization of therapeutics for good treatment outcomes in the Region cannot be overemphasized.