PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Mauritius: 'No Ebola case so far in SADC region'
Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Health Ministers of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) who met in Johannesburg, South Africa, have announced several measures to prevent the introduction and spread of the Ebola virus disease in the region.
''There has not been any Ebola case in the SADC region thus far. However, it is critical that the region put in place preventive measures to ensure that there is no outbreak of this virus,'' Dr Jean Kalilani, chairperson of SADC Health Ministers and Minister of Health of Malawi, told the meeting, held on Wednesday.
She observed that the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is the deadliest in history.
''As Ministers, we should ensure that appropriate executive and political leadership takes the lead in all efforts to manage the disease,'' the chairperson said, adding, ''it is important for leaders to champion the awareness campaign in order to dispel myths and to restore calm to the population.''
The Ministers decided to mobilise relevant government sectors and community, religious and political leaders to work together to increase awareness and understanding of the Ebola situation by communities in order to ensure optimum preparedness and response, identify and commit additional domestic financial resources to support the outbreak preparedness, organise cross border consultations and strengthen surveillance in a timely manner.
''We should also improve community information and communication in matters related to the Ebola epidemic, respecting the different socio-cultural contexts, enhancing awareness and promoting community participation in preventive, curative and health promotion interventions,'' they said in a communiqué.
The Ministers also agreed to put in place a regional fund to assist member states in emergency situations and that South Africa should be the centre of excellence in Ebola laboratory diagnosis in the region.
PANA reports that the Ebola virus disease is currently affecting Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, all in West Africa, where it has killed 932 people so far.
-0- PANA NA/SEG 7Aug2014
''There has not been any Ebola case in the SADC region thus far. However, it is critical that the region put in place preventive measures to ensure that there is no outbreak of this virus,'' Dr Jean Kalilani, chairperson of SADC Health Ministers and Minister of Health of Malawi, told the meeting, held on Wednesday.
She observed that the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is the deadliest in history.
''As Ministers, we should ensure that appropriate executive and political leadership takes the lead in all efforts to manage the disease,'' the chairperson said, adding, ''it is important for leaders to champion the awareness campaign in order to dispel myths and to restore calm to the population.''
The Ministers decided to mobilise relevant government sectors and community, religious and political leaders to work together to increase awareness and understanding of the Ebola situation by communities in order to ensure optimum preparedness and response, identify and commit additional domestic financial resources to support the outbreak preparedness, organise cross border consultations and strengthen surveillance in a timely manner.
''We should also improve community information and communication in matters related to the Ebola epidemic, respecting the different socio-cultural contexts, enhancing awareness and promoting community participation in preventive, curative and health promotion interventions,'' they said in a communiqué.
The Ministers also agreed to put in place a regional fund to assist member states in emergency situations and that South Africa should be the centre of excellence in Ebola laboratory diagnosis in the region.
PANA reports that the Ebola virus disease is currently affecting Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, all in West Africa, where it has killed 932 people so far.
-0- PANA NA/SEG 7Aug2014
