Kanduyi health workers trained on Ebola preparedness to protect border communities

On August 25, 2026, frontline health workers in Kanduyi, a border community in Bungoma County, underwent training on Ebola preparedness. The initiative aims to strengthen response efforts in areas adjacent to Uganda, where Kenya has identified Busia and surrounding counties as high-risk zones.

Emmanuel Were, from Food for the Hungry, explained that the training focused on equipping community health workers to identify potential cases, respond effectively, and disseminate information to households through established health structures. They will then engage with families in their respective areas to share crucial information about Ebola prevention, early reporting, and appropriate response measures.

The strategy extends Ebola preparedness beyond traditional health facilities to the grassroots level, ensuring that community members can access vital information on prevention and response. Kenya has also deployed Community Health Promoters (CHPs) as part of its broader preparedness strategy, urging them to enhance community awareness and surveillance.

Moses Ouma, a health worker from Busia, emphasized the importance of strengthening community health services and closer engagement with individuals at the household level. He stressed that protecting residents requires empowering them with knowledge and resources to stay safe, and that working closely with CHPs is key to achieving this.

Given Busia's proximity to the Kenya-Uganda border, preparedness efforts are especially critical. Health authorities have ramped up surveillance and response capacity at border points and within communities. The training is part of a larger effort to prepare frontline health workers and communities to recognize and respond to potential Ebola cases.

Kenya has intensified its preparedness measures following the regional outbreak, including expanding training for healthcare workers and bolstering community-level response mechanisms. By focusing on community health workers, Kenya aims to ensure that residents receive timely information and guidance closer to their homes, while health workers can identify and report potential health threats before they escalate further.