Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda was confirmed on the 20th of September 2022. Uganda borders Kenya to the west, with a very high population movement recorded between the two countries. Therefore, the Kenya Ministry of Health embarked on various key activities in preparation for any possible importation of EVD cases into the country. One such activity implemented through the Division of Disease Surveillance and Response (DDSR) and the Kenya FELTP was the training of health workers at the national and county levels in 20 high-risk counties which include Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Migori, Homa bay, Kisumu, Tran Nzoia, West pokot, Turkana, Nakuru, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos, Makueni, Taita taveta, Mombasa, Siaya and Kwale. The World Health Organization provided financial support for these series of trainings. Other partners including CDC, UNICEF, KRCS, IOM and USAID provided technical support during the trainings.

A total of 83 health workers at the national level were trained between the 24th – 26th of October 2022. These trainers then cascaded the training to the County Health Management Teams (CHMT) in the 20 high-risk counties. This was followed by another two-day training for the Sub-County Health Management Teams (SCHMT) in a total of 11 counties out of the 20 high-risk counties. The 11 counties trained include Kisumu, Siaya, Homa bay, Migori, Kakamega, Bungoma, Turkana, West pokot, Nairobi and Trans Nzoia. A total of eight officers per county and sub-county were targeted. A total of 171 health workers were trained at the county level while 1192 health workers were trained at the sub-county level. The trainees were registered in an electronic registration form in order to allow for keeping an updated national database of health workers trained in the country.

This training focused on the eight important pillars of EVD preparedness which include: coordination, data management case management, sample management, surveillance, community management, psychosocial support, risk communication and community engagement, and infection prevention and control.