The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and designated health facilities, is conducting a series of inception meetings to officially launch the Employee Health Program (EHP) for UWA staff working across Uganda’s protected areas in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL). These meetings, held between 16–21 February 2026, serve to align expectations, strengthen coordination, and establish implementation modalities for a program designed to enhance preventive healthcare and strengthen One Health preparedness for frontline conservation staff.
The inception meetings are being conducted in several hospitals serving UWA ranger posts and park jurisdictions. The first meeting took place on 16 February 2026 at St. Francis Hospital Mutolere in Kisoro; the second at Bwindi Community Hospital in Buhoma; the third at Kagando Rural Development Centre (KARUDEC) – Kagando Hospital; the fourth on 19 February 2026 at Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital in Kasese District and the fifth and final at Busaru Health Center IV in Bundibugyo District on the 20th February 2026.
Across all sites, these meetings have followed a common structure and objectives, ensuring uniform understanding and rollout of the EHP throughout the GVL.
Strengthening Preventive Health at the Frontline of Conservation
During each inception meeting, GVTC highlighted the critical need for proactive health interventions for UWA personnel. Rangers, trackers, guides, and other frontline staff work daily at the human–wildlife interface, which exposes them to zoonotic and occupational health risks. The Employee Health Program seeks to address these vulnerabilities by shifting health support from a reactive model; where staff seek care only when ill, to a proactive one where health services reach staff directly at their duty stations.
The EHP package includes:
- Awareness raising and health education on zoonoses and occupational risks
- Comprehensive clinical screening, including targeted examinations
- Laboratory testing aligned with One Health surveillance
- Vaccination services, covering rabies, tetanus, hepatitis B, Mpox, Ebola, yellow fever, and COVID‑19
- Deworming programs
- Psychosocial support for personnel requiring follow-up
- Referral pathways linked to UWA’s existing medical insurance providers
To ensure accessibility, services are planned to be delivered at ranger posts, field stations, and selected health facilities, reducing the burden of travel and minimising disruption to conservation duties.
Enhancing Coordination Across Conservation and Health Sectors
Representatives from UWA park management and district health facilities expressed strong appreciation for the initiative. Across all meetings, UWA emphasized the importance of protecting frontline staff; especially trackers and guides; who face the highest exposure risks. Health facilities affirmed readiness to deploy teams for outreach and to integrate program activities into their operational schedules.
Partners also stressed the importance of communication protocols, given UWA’s paramilitary structure. Planning visits and awareness activities will therefore involve close coordination with park management and HR officers.
Implementation Planning and Reporting Requirements
A harmonized approach to planning and reporting was agreed upon during the meetings. Each park and health facility will finalize schedules indicating:
- Ranger posts and field sites to be visited
- Dates for vaccination days, awareness sessions, and screenings
- Referral arrangements for advanced care
Reporting expectations include:
- Quarterly progress reports, submitted by the 10th of each quarter
- Financial accountability, including tax compliance through GVTC’s financial procedures
- Disbursement requests, issued once 80% of the previous tranche is utilized
Health facilities committed to initiating activities as soon as funds for the first cycle are received.
Insights from all five meetings will inform a consolidated operational plan to guide EHP implementation across the Greater Virunga Landscape.
A Unified Commitment to One Health in the GVL
By conducting inception meetings at all major partner health facilities, GVTC is ensuring consistent understanding and commitment to the Employee Health Program. The EHP marks a significant advance in protecting UWA staff, improving disease prevention, and strengthening the One Health approach in a region that is vital for biodiversity conservation yet vulnerable to zoonotic threats.
The program reaffirms the collective commitment of GVTC, UWA, and district health partners to safeguard both human and wildlife health while enhancing resilience across the Greater Virunga Landscape.
Note that the EHP is a flagship intervention under the World Bank–funded project Strengthening One Health Preparedness, Prevention and Response in the Greater Virunga Landscape (PPR-GVL), implemented by FAO, WHO, and UNICEF as the Implementing Entities and by GVTC , WWF, Gorilla Doctors, IGCP and IUCN as the major delivery partners. The program seeks to address health and zoonotic disease risks faced by frontline conservation personnel working in the Greater Virunga Landscape, one of Africa’s most biodiverse and high-risk areas for zoonotic spillover.
