News / Health
SADC to fight Ebola collectively
06 Sep 2014 at 19:56hrs | Views
SADC Health Ministers have come up with a common regional position on travel of persons, trucks and commercial vehicles from Ebola affected countries in line with the international health regulations.
The SADC Health Ministers 2nd extra-ordinary meeting held in Victoria Falls which brought together health experts from member states as well as representatives from the World Health Organisation came up with a number of resolutions aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly disease into the region.
The Chairperson of the SADC Health Ministers, Dr David Parirenyatwa said the regulations include screening, avoiding mass gatherings involving people from affected countries and quarantine for a period of 21 days for individuals that have come in contact with infected dead bodies, people or animals from affected areas.
"The Ministers agreed on standardising public health interventions to prevent the spread of the EVD into their perspective countries. The common interventions include procurement and prepositioning of personal protective equipment (PPE), training of health workers, sensitisation of stakeholders, identification and equipping of isolation/treatment centres, laboratory diagnosis, screening of travellers at all critical points of entry or exit," said Dr Parirenyatwa.
Responding to questions on the readiness of the regional bloc to deal with Ebola cases, Ministers from various countries said member states are ready to deal with the cases which will be dealt with collectively and urged the media to write positive stories that will not cause panic among members of the public.
Although it could not be established how much money the region will require for awareness campaigns, training and advocacy, Dr Parirenyatwa confirmed that Zimbabwe will use money that had been allocated for other activities within the Ministry of Health and Child Care to spearhead programmes aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola into the country.
Government has so far opened screening points at various ports of entry in Victoria Falls, Harare, Bulawayo and Beitbridge.
The SADC Health Ministers 2nd extra-ordinary meeting held in Victoria Falls which brought together health experts from member states as well as representatives from the World Health Organisation came up with a number of resolutions aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly disease into the region.
The Chairperson of the SADC Health Ministers, Dr David Parirenyatwa said the regulations include screening, avoiding mass gatherings involving people from affected countries and quarantine for a period of 21 days for individuals that have come in contact with infected dead bodies, people or animals from affected areas.
Responding to questions on the readiness of the regional bloc to deal with Ebola cases, Ministers from various countries said member states are ready to deal with the cases which will be dealt with collectively and urged the media to write positive stories that will not cause panic among members of the public.
Although it could not be established how much money the region will require for awareness campaigns, training and advocacy, Dr Parirenyatwa confirmed that Zimbabwe will use money that had been allocated for other activities within the Ministry of Health and Child Care to spearhead programmes aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola into the country.
Government has so far opened screening points at various ports of entry in Victoria Falls, Harare, Bulawayo and Beitbridge.
Source - zbc
