(JUBA) – Vietnamese peacekeeping medical personnel serving under the United Nations mission in South Sudan have intensified Ebola preparedness measures through a combination of training sessions and simulation exercises aimed at strengthening outbreak response capacity within the mission.
The activity, held on 10 June, included a workshop and a practical drill designed to test readiness for managing potential cases of Ebola virus disease within the mission environment. The exercise highlighted the preparedness efforts of Viet Nam’s Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7, which is responsible for providing medical support to peacekeeping personnel stationed in South Sudan.
Health monitoring data from the United Nations mission indicates that although South Sudan has not reported confirmed Ebola cases, neighbouring countries continue to experience outbreaks. A report dated 31 May 2026 recorded 1,100 suspected cases, 282 confirmed cases and 42 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Uganda reported nine confirmed cases and one death.
A later update dated 9 June 2026 showed continued spread in the region, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo recording 550 confirmed cases and 101 deaths, while Uganda reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths. Health officials say these figures underline the continued regional risk due to population movement, trade links, humanitarian operations and cross border travel.
Within this context, United Nations health coordinators in South Sudan have maintained that preparedness remains essential for all peacekeeping units, particularly those hosting international staff from multiple countries. The concentration of personnel in shared facilities increases the need for strict screening, early detection and rapid isolation systems.
In response, Viet Nam’s Level 2 Field Hospital No. 7 has implemented a series of operational measures aimed at strengthening disease detection and control capacity. These include updates to internal surveillance systems, reinforcement of isolation areas, and review of patient triage procedures to ensure early identification of suspected cases.
The hospital management has also instructed staff to maintain continuous communication with the mission’s Field Medical Office, the World Health Organization and other United Nations health bodies. This coordination is intended to ensure that operational procedures can be adjusted quickly in line with evolving health alerts.
In addition, the medical unit has increased stocks of protective equipment, disinfectants and infection control materials. Officials said the approach is designed to ensure readiness for rapid response while maintaining safety for both patients and medical personnel.
The Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department was assigned responsibility for developing training materials and standardising response procedures across the unit. Training covered early symptom recognition, patient handling, isolation processes, infection prevention and control practices, and correct use of protective equipment in line with biosafety requirements.
A key feature of the programme was its inclusion of all staff members, not only medical professionals. Hospital officials said this approach reflects a wider operational principle that infection control is a shared responsibility across the entire unit, where every member plays a role in early detection and risk reduction.
Under directives from hospital leadership, all personnel were trained to identify potential risks and follow established procedures when responding to suspected infectious disease cases. This is intended to ensure consistency in response and reduce exposure risks during emergency situations.
Following the training sessions, the hospital conducted a full simulation exercise based on a scenario involving a suspected Ebola case within the mission base. The drill covered the complete response chain, including reception, screening, emergency notification, patient isolation, transport procedures, treatment steps, and disinfection protocols.
The exercise was designed to replicate real conditions as closely as possible in order to test operational readiness and coordination among different response teams. Officials said the exercise helped identify strengths and areas requiring further improvement in emergency procedures.
The simulation on 10 June was attended by representatives from other international medical units operating within the mission, including personnel from Pakistan, Mongolia and Ghana, as well as staff from the Level 1 Hospital of the Unity Sector. Discussions following the drill focused on coordination between units and standardisation of emergency response practices.
United Nations medical coordinators said such joint exercises are essential for maintaining preparedness in high risk environments where rapid disease spread could affect both mission personnel and surrounding communities.