Rwanda and DRC mount joint efforts to prevent Ebola

The cooperation was approved yesterday following discussions that brought together Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba and her Congolese counterpart, the Acting Minister of Health, Pierre Kangudia Mbayi in Rubavu district after observing the implementation of Ebola prevention measures at the border.

The visit of Pierre Kangudia on the invitation of his Rwandan counterpart, Dr. Diane Gashumba aimed at strengthening both countries’ willingness to prevent the outbreak.

Both Ministers of Health signed a joint Communiqué after a one-day meeting in which they expressed high-level political commitment to strengthen cross-border cooperation in matters of disease prevention in the two countries.

The joint cooperation program will go into effect after presenting it to the World Health Organization’s regional office on 15th August 2019.

Minister Kangudia told the media that it is crucial for both countries to cooperate in curtailing the outbreak which has killed over 1500 people and recently reported in Goma town bordering with Rwanda.

“The outbreak neither has limitations nor seeks Visa. It can spread regardless of whatever efforts put in place. I am grateful to the Government of Rwanda for inviting us to draw joint strategies to prevent Ebola for regional interests. We shall help all regional countries where it might spread from DRC,” he said.

Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Gashumba Diane said that prevention efforts need to be sustained through the outbreak has not yet spread to Rwanda.

“The meet with DRC officials is a symbol of cooperation but it doesn’t eliminate existing prevention efforts. We are going to strengthen strategies so that people crossing to DRC will go through a stern screening and avoid reaching Ebola-affected areas,” she revealed.

In a bid to contain Ebola, screening is being performed on all borders and airports and the country is equipped with an Emergency Treatment Center (ETC) built-in Rugerero Sector, Rubavu District to screen and treat Ebola in case of an outbreak.

Among others, simulation exercises took place in Gisenyi Hospital-Rubavu District, Rwanda Military Hospital-Kigali, Rugerero Health Centre-Rubavu, and Kamembe Airport-Rusizi.