JCRC Concludes Mpox Project, Trains Hundreds and Supports Survivors

The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) has officially closed its Mpox Prevention and Control Project, a year-long initiative aimed at bolstering Uganda’s response to the disease. Implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and the Wakiso District Local Government, the project focused on strengthening community-level surveillance and expanding critical health services.

A key achievement of the project was the comprehensive training of 449 frontline personnel. This included 201 health workers and 248 Village Health Team (VHT) members, equipping them with essential skills for Mpox prevention, detection, and response.

Beyond training, the initiative actively worked to curb transmission by supporting the vaccination of 400 individuals in high-risk communities. Approximately 300 vaccinations were administered in Kawempe Division, Kampala, while 100 were provided in Kiira Municipality, Wakiso District.

The project recognized the multifaceted impact of Mpox, offering vital psychosocial counselling to over 150 survivors. Furthermore, it aimed to foster economic recovery by providing vocational training in the production of essential items like liquid soap, bar soap, shampoo, and bleach to 100 survivors.

During its operation, the project teams screened 774 suspected Mpox cases, with 265 confirmed through laboratory testing. Encouragingly, all confirmed cases received successful treatment and were discharged without any fatalities recorded within the project’s timeframe.

JCRC Executive Director, Dr. Cissy Kityo, emphasized that the project highlighted the need for robust health systems that extend beyond immediate outbreak management. She stated, “Epidemic preparedness must extend beyond treating disease. It must build strong frontline health systems, empower communities to quickly detect and report affected individuals, reduce transmission, and ensure that people who survive an outbreak are supported to recover socially and economically.”

The project’s integrated approach, combining surveillance, vaccination, health worker training, and survivor support, proved effective in enhancing the Mpox response in the targeted districts. This comprehensive strategy has been instrumental in building resilience against future public health threats.

This report was made possible with information from Nile Post.