Baylor Uganda Trains Ntungamo Health Teams on Disease Surveillance and Cross-Border Threat Response

By Anthony Kushaba | Ntungamo

Baylor Uganda, with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has conducted a high-impact training aimed at strengthening disease surveillance capacity in Ntungamo District.

The three days training which started on Tuesday  and  held at the Ntungamo District Council Hall, brought together health professionals and district-level trainers, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills to boost early detection, reporting, and response to public health threats especially those arising from cross-border movements.

According to Geofrey Baluku, Project Officer for Border Health at Baylor Uganda, the initiative focused on orienting Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) in surveillance activities. The goal is to build a robust district-level team capable of implementing both community-based and health facility surveillance systems.

“This training will enable the trainers to operationalize surveillance efforts at entry points, which is crucial for early detection and a coordinated response to health threats that may cross borders,” Baluku explained.

Ntungamo District Health Officer, Dr. Amon Bahati, welcomed the training as timely, noting that it complements ongoing government efforts to strengthen surveillance systems and preparedness at the grassroots level.

“This initiative boosts our district’s ability to detect and respond to disease outbreaks before they escalate. It’s a vital contribution to our health infrastructure,” Dr. Bahati said.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, Principal Assistant Secretary Gerald Niwagaba encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training to enhance health service delivery across the district.

“Training alone is not enough. What matters is how we use the skills to serve our communities better,” Niwagaba told the participants.

Ntungamo District Vice Chairperson, Asuman Kigongo, praised Baylor Uganda for its continued collaboration with the district, describing the organization as a key player in strengthening public health systems.

“Partners like Baylor Uganda are instrumental in supplementing government efforts to improve health service delivery. We are grateful for their support and commitment,” Kigongo noted.

The training marks a significant step in fortifying Ntungamo’s disease surveillance and emergency preparedness systems, especially as the region continues to experience high mobility across borders, increasing the risk of disease importation and spread.