This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
As Uganda marks nearly a month since entering Phase Three of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country is still struggling with public messaging, with rising cases throughout June.
According to experts, Uganda still has a chance to keep infections low if it enforces social distancing and the strict use of face masks, as warned during a virtual meeting between the Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation and Centres for Disease Control.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng expressed concern in June, stating, "We’ve entered a stage where we see clusters of infections, we have cases but we can’t trace the person that infected them. We have some places that have become hotspots. That’s worrying,"
Health experts warn that delays in getting the messaging right could lead to an exponential outbreak, emphasizing the need for the government to inform, persuade, and motivate the public to follow measures.
"Right now we are shooting ads that urge the public not to be complacent. The ads encourage regular hand washing, proper use of masks and social distancing. These will start airing soon," said Ronex Kisembo Tendo, the chief executive of Precision Media, the firm handling Covid-19 messaging for the Ministry of Health.
However, officials say concepts of these messages take time to put together, seek approvals for the mode of dissemination and wait for them to make impact, yet the community infections continue to grow.
