{The Ministry of Health is set to train about 1300 Police officers in handling people suspected of having entered into contact with persons suspected of having Ebola symptoms or diagnosed with the virus.}
About 400 officers are set to be trained in the City of Kigali alone while 30 others from each of the 30 districts will also benefit from the same training
The Minister for Health, Agnes Binagwaho while addressing Police officers at the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru on Wednesday, said the idea is to be prepared to respond to Ebola outbreak.
The dreadful virus has so far claimed over 5000 people in West Africa.
“This is a preparedness and response measure. The training will focus on traceability and health investigative skills in Ebola morbidity suspicion. Police officers will be equipped with skills and kits that are necessary for dispatching suspected patients to hospitals,” Minister Binagwaho said.
Suspected patients, she said, will later be transferred to Remera-Mbogo hospital in Rulindo district where a specialized unit of medical experts was also established.
“Given the nature of investigative instincts, Police will assist in identifying people who might have had contact with an Ebola suspected victim which in turn will ease minimizing its spread,” she explained.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Dan Munyuza said the force is always prepared to intervene in such situations.
“Police is ever ready to offer such services as it is one of our prerogative obligations of protecting citizen,” DIGP Munyuza said.
The training of police officers will supplement other measures already in place including mobile clinics at Kigali International Airport and all border posts.
Police
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