News / Health
Ebola task force 'essential'
27 Aug 2014 at 17:37hrs | Views
There is need for different ministries to work together to ensure that Zimbabwe is safe from the advancing threat of the Ebola virus.
The ministries of Home Affairs, Tourism, Foreign Affairs and others related to the movement of people on the continent should work together to curb the spread of the virus into new regions.
Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa told journalists that efforts must be made to ensure that the virus is restricted and contained in the areas that have already been affected.
Dr Parirenyatwa reassured the nation that up until now there was no case of ebola reported in the SADC region until a few days ago when a case was reported in the DRC.
Prior to this, ebola had been identified only in West Africa.
Dr Parirenyatwa said international travel is the main cause of the spread of ebola and urged Zimbabweans to be very vigilant.
He said health workers who are front runners in the fight against ebola should be well protected and taken care of.
Dr Parirenyatwa said with the recent report of ebola outbreak in the DRC, Zimbabwe may start considering tighter measures to protect the country.
Other countries have adopted travel restrictions and banned travellers from affected countries.
The World Health Organisation has donated protective kits for health workers dealing with issues of preventing the ebola vorus.
The ebola virus was first reported in the DRC and there is no vaccine for the virus.
The briefing was attended by Ministry of Health officials, WHO representatives, UNDP officials, Doctors Without Borders and the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Ray Ndhlukula, as well as the Special Adviser to the President and Cabinet, Dr Timothy Stamps.
The ministries of Home Affairs, Tourism, Foreign Affairs and others related to the movement of people on the continent should work together to curb the spread of the virus into new regions.
Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa told journalists that efforts must be made to ensure that the virus is restricted and contained in the areas that have already been affected.
Dr Parirenyatwa reassured the nation that up until now there was no case of ebola reported in the SADC region until a few days ago when a case was reported in the DRC.
Prior to this, ebola had been identified only in West Africa.
Dr Parirenyatwa said international travel is the main cause of the spread of ebola and urged Zimbabweans to be very vigilant.
He said health workers who are front runners in the fight against ebola should be well protected and taken care of.
Dr Parirenyatwa said with the recent report of ebola outbreak in the DRC, Zimbabwe may start considering tighter measures to protect the country.
Other countries have adopted travel restrictions and banned travellers from affected countries.
The World Health Organisation has donated protective kits for health workers dealing with issues of preventing the ebola vorus.
The ebola virus was first reported in the DRC and there is no vaccine for the virus.
The briefing was attended by Ministry of Health officials, WHO representatives, UNDP officials, Doctors Without Borders and the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Ray Ndhlukula, as well as the Special Adviser to the President and Cabinet, Dr Timothy Stamps.
Source - zbc
