South Sudan’s health authorities will conduct a full-scale simulation exercise to test the country’s preparedness and response systems for a potential Bundibugyo Ebola Virus disease (BVD) case in Juba, Yei and Yambio, the Ministry of Health has announced.
The exercise, scheduled to run from 19 to 23 October, will simulate the detection of a suspected case and test how health authorities coordinate emergency response activities, including surveillance, infection prevention and control, patient transportation and isolation procedures.
“The exercise is intended to strengthen the country’s ability to prevent, detect and respond effectively to public health emergencies,” said Caretaker National Minister of Health Dak Duop Bichiok. “The exercise is a preparedness activity and should not be interpreted as a declaration of an outbreak.”
The Acting Executive Director of the National Public Health Institute (NPHI) said the exercise would involve a simulated scenario in which a suspected case is detected at Juba International Airport and reported to the Emergency Operations Centre.
A rapid response team would then be deployed to manage the simulated incident, implement infection prevention measures and arrange the transfer of the suspected patient by ambulance to an isolation unit.
The exercise is intended to assess coordination among health professionals, emergency response teams and relevant government institutions, while identifying gaps that could affect the country’s response during an actual public health emergency.
During the press conference, journalists questioned why Nimule, a major border crossing between South Sudan and Uganda, had not been included among the three locations selected for the initial exercise.
The NPHI representative said Nimule had not been excluded permanently but would be considered in a second phase because of budget constraints.
He said Yei and Yambio were selected partly because of their proximity to international borders, while Juba was included as the national capital.
The official did not provide a specific budget for the exercise when asked by journalists, saying funding details would be communicated later.
The decision to postpone activities in Nimule raises questions about the scope of the initial exercise and when the government intends to extend preparedness activities to other locations.
The press conference also raised questions about people crossing back into South Sudan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Responding to journalists, the NPHI representative estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 people had crossed back into the country around the Nabanga area of Ibba County, adding that the number was increasing.
The official did not provide a precise date for when the movement began or further details about the people involved.
He said health teams were monitoring the situation and that people entering South Sudan were subject to screening and monitoring for possible deterioration in health.
The estimate was not accompanied by figures on the number of people screened or the results of any screening. The official did not say that the people crossing into South Sudan had been diagnosed with Bundibugyo virus disease.
Minister Bichiok urged residents, particularly those in Juba, Yei and Yambio, to cooperate with authorized exercise teams and follow guidance from health officials.
He warned that members of the public might observe unusual movements of health personnel, ambulances and emergency response teams during the exercise, saying these activities should not be interpreted as evidence of an outbreak.
The minister also called on journalists, community leaders and other stakeholders to share verified information and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports that could cause unnecessary fear.
The NPHI was identified as the main technical institution responsible for coordinating public health emergency preparedness activities, with officials directing journalists to the institute for verified information on the exercise.
The minister said the government would continue working with national and international partners to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, and emergency preparedness.
The exercise will involve health authorities and other participating stakeholders in Juba, Yei and Yambio. Officials did not provide a detailed schedule of activities or specify how the results would be evaluated.
The Ministry of Health said the exercise was intended to identify weaknesses in the country’s emergency response systems and improve coordination before a public health emergency occurs.
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