Uganda vaccinates soldiers in DR Congo against Ebola
Front-line workers like health workers, customs and immigration officials will be vaccinated in the second phase of the exercise.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
Vaccinations against Ebola have begun to be administered to Ugandan soldiers engaged in combat with rebels in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
More than 10,000 troops of the force battling the rebel Allied Democratic Force (ADF) are the goal of the exercise, which started last week.
6,200 Ugandan soldiers have received vaccinations thus far.
Dr. Francis Xavier Bakehena, the head of public health for the Ugandan army, claims that because the troops are aware of the threat posed by Ebola, their response has been positive.
During the drill, soldiers who guard the border with DR Congo will also be included.
A total of 12,000 Merck vaccinations have been provided by the World Health Organization. In a few weeks, Johnson and Johnson will also offer 10,000 more.
Front-line workers like health workers, customs, and immigration officials will be vaccinated in the second phase of the exercise.
DR Congo confirmed a case of Ebola in Beni district, North Kivu province two weeks ago, six weeks after an outbreak was confirmed in Equateur province.
No imported case has been reported in Uganda so far but authorities have since stepped up surveillance and put 21 districts that border DR Congo on high alert.
