The safe injection campaign in Uige, Angola 2005

The Safe Injection Campaign was initiated by the Marburg outbreak control task force, after the team discovered obvious signs of unsafe use of injections in homes, private clinics and among traditional healers. Their unsafe use is an important component in the spread of the Marburg virus.

Coiepa, the Association of Churches in Angola, was identified as an important partner for disseminating information to the local community. Prior to the launch of the campaign, a meeting was held with leaders from various churches to explain the role of unsafe injections in transmitting the disease and to ask their help in raising awareness about the issue among the population. Religious leaders have played a big part in the campaign, passing on the message to their congregations.

WHO has provided funding for carrying out the campaign, in addition to distributing the yellow ‘sharp’ boxes, for discarding injections, needles, razors and blades. Once these boxes are full, they are sent to the Uige hospital for incineration along with other infectious waste.

The head of Coiepa, the Association of Churches in Angola, collects
needles, syringes and razors from the local population in Uige
municipality before the Sunday religious service.

A church leader explains the importance of the safe injection campaign
to over 200 people at a religious service in Uige municipality.