PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ethiopia: Africa volunteer corps deployed to DRC to monitor Ebola
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - A group of African health volunteers have been deployed to north-eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to carry out Ebola surveillance to prevent a possible spread of the virus to Central African Republic (CAR), the AU said on Wednesday.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) deployed the team of African health volunteers to DRC to carry out the post-Ebola outbreak surveillance, the AU said in a statement.
The surveillance is an effort to prevent the possible spread of the Ebola virus into neighbouring countries, in particular CAR and South Sudan in the event that new cases of Ebola virus disease occurs in the area.
“This deployment is the request of the Government of the DRC for Africa CDC to strengthen cross border surveillance. It also comes after the successful containment of the latest outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country on 11 May 2017, which was declared ended on 1 July 2017,” the AU said.
The Africa CDC team, comprising 14 volunteers and experts from the AU's African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC), includes seven physicians, four epidemiologists, two hygienists and one communication officer.
They will support the government of DRC for a period of 60 days in post-Ebola surveillance in the surrounding areas of Likati in the Province of Bas-Uélé, and strengthen the capacity of local actors.
Their specific activities will include active research into Ebola cases, reduction of the risk of transmission of the Ebola Virus Disease to the surrounding areas and the promotion of good practices in individual, collective and cross-border hygiene.
The team is also working on strengthening the capacity of health care workers in early case detection and reporting to the higher level, manage the Ebola Virus disease in order to limit the chain of transmission, in case of any occurrence, the AU said.
The first movement of the Africa CDC personnel to Bas-Uélé province started on 3 July 2017.
The second movement that took place on 5 July transported four volunteers who will cover the Wapinda Health Zone.
-0- PANA AO/AR 12July2017
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) deployed the team of African health volunteers to DRC to carry out the post-Ebola outbreak surveillance, the AU said in a statement.
The surveillance is an effort to prevent the possible spread of the Ebola virus into neighbouring countries, in particular CAR and South Sudan in the event that new cases of Ebola virus disease occurs in the area.
“This deployment is the request of the Government of the DRC for Africa CDC to strengthen cross border surveillance. It also comes after the successful containment of the latest outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country on 11 May 2017, which was declared ended on 1 July 2017,” the AU said.
The Africa CDC team, comprising 14 volunteers and experts from the AU's African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC), includes seven physicians, four epidemiologists, two hygienists and one communication officer.
They will support the government of DRC for a period of 60 days in post-Ebola surveillance in the surrounding areas of Likati in the Province of Bas-Uélé, and strengthen the capacity of local actors.
Their specific activities will include active research into Ebola cases, reduction of the risk of transmission of the Ebola Virus Disease to the surrounding areas and the promotion of good practices in individual, collective and cross-border hygiene.
The team is also working on strengthening the capacity of health care workers in early case detection and reporting to the higher level, manage the Ebola Virus disease in order to limit the chain of transmission, in case of any occurrence, the AU said.
The first movement of the Africa CDC personnel to Bas-Uélé province started on 3 July 2017.
The second movement that took place on 5 July transported four volunteers who will cover the Wapinda Health Zone.
-0- PANA AO/AR 12July2017
