From PHBB to the Frontlines of Ebola Response

We recently reconnected with one of our alums, now working on the frontlines of the Ebola response in Uganda. They shared the story below of how PHBB shaped their path into public health and how the lessons they learned here continue to inform their work today. At their request, we're sharing their account anonymously.

"I first heard about the field of public health back in 2018, when a friend invited me to a Public Health Beyond Borders meeting. Eight years later, I find myself with a degree in public health, serving as a community health coordinator for an organization on the frontlines of the current Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

This outbreak is unique in a number of ways. First, it took significantly longer than typical for the outbreak to be identified, allowing the virus to spread to record numbers before prevention or response interventions could be initiated. Second, unlike the Zaire strain behind the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, the Bundibugyo strain causing this outbreak has no licensed vaccine or specific treatment, only supportive care. As a result, prevention efforts focused on social behavior change are even more critical. While Ebola has continued to spread in the DRC, Uganda has managed to contain the virus fairly well, with 19 confirmed cases reported as of mid-June.

Working with an organization that spans the border between Uganda and the DRC, we are key players in preventing the virus from spilling further into Uganda. As we always say in public health, "prevention is key," and the best way to prevent an outbreak is through the community. Raising awareness among communities is vital to any effort targeting Ebola preparedness and response. Engaging community members doesn't just support the uptake of prevention methods, it strengthens every aspect of an effective intervention. From community surveillance and contact tracing to handwashing and safe burials, informed community members are at the heart of it all.

PHBB opened my eyes not only to public health as a whole, but to global community health. The organization instilled in me the deep importance of working with communities, for communities, a principle that remains critically relevant in my work every day. As I design key messages and trainings for community health workers, I often think back to a communication workshop I took part in with PHBB in 2019. During that workshop, we worked through the CDC's Clear Communication Index, a tool that emphasizes the importance of using clear, simple, and concise language when addressing communities. That skill has stayed with me, benefiting both my work and the communities I serve.

While I am now miles away from where my journey began, PHBB continues to be a lasting influence in my life and my work."

— A PHBB Alum