The Kisoro District Health Officer, Stephen Nsabiyunva, has called upon Village Health Teams (VHTs) from Kisoro Municipality to collaborate with health authorities and adhere to standard operating procedures within their communities to effectively control Mpox.
This message was delivered during a VHT coordination meeting held at Tourist Hotel in Kisoro Municipality, funded by the Kisoro Municipality hopeful, Emmanuel Maniraguha.
Nsabiyunva urged VHTs to play a pivotal role in controlling Mpox in rural communities by creating awareness about its causes, signs, and symptoms. He commended VHTs for their efforts in identifying and reporting suspected cases, providing health education, administering vaccines and treatments, collaborating with healthcare professionals, and offering psychosocial support.
Nsabiyunva also called upon VHTs to inform the public about the outbreak of anthrax in Kanungu district, which has claimed one life.
Mubanjizi Valentine, the Kisoro District Health Educator, emphasized the importance of implementing hygiene and sanitation measures within communities to control outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, and Mpox.
Alex Habyarimana, the VHT of Gatovu, Gasiza ward in Southern Division, Kisoro Municipality, called upon health authorities to acknowledge the work done by VHTs and support their efforts through strengthening health systems, improving data quality and surveillance, enhancing community participation, and ensuring increased access to healthcare services.
Meanwhile, the Kisoro Municipality hopeful, Emmanuel Maniraguha, pledged to fund mass deworming programs for all residents of Kisoro Municipality. He acknowledged the valuable work of VHTs and urged them to unite and cooperate with him for improved service delivery.
