Govt puts Copperbelt on Ebola footing

Wed, 17 May 2017 09:57:02 +0000

By VIOLET TEMBO

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) has heightened  surveillance activities on the Copperbelt in light of the outbreak of Ebola in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Provincial medical officer Consisity Mwale responded in a press query that all district health offices and health institutions have been alerted.

“Following the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring DRC, the Ministry of Health’s directive to reactivate and trigger Ebola response activities on the Copperbelt has been implemented.

‘‘Our province has ongoing epidemic prevention, response, management and control activities through Provincial Development Coordinating sub-committees (PDCC) and District Development Coordinating sub-committees (DDCC).

‘‘The PDCC and DDCC is key to Ebola prevention and preparedness as it provides many opportunities that are multi-sectoral in nature and coherently coordinated,” he said.

Dr. Mwale said health staff at the two border entry points – Ndola and Mufulira – have been alerted and were equal to the task.

He said the team stationed at the entry points will continue to screen everyone crossing the border formally.

“The importance of formal border crossing has been shared with all stakeholders so that informal border entry is avoided.

The thermal scanners at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe airport and Mokambo are fully functional.

‘‘During the coming weeks, staff capacity building and Ebola related training activities will continue alongside clinical and public staff meetings on Ebola prevention, transmission and case management,” Dr Mwale said.   Dr. Mwale said health management teams have conducted community sensitization and awareness activities across the province and that implementation has been undertaken by all key stakeholders.

He said with the news of the outbreak, key stakeholders have been formally communicated to for their support and resource mobilisation and heightened community sensitization.

He emphasized that the key message is on increased index of suspicion and to report all suspected cases to the health authorities.

Dr. Mwale said other messages being disseminated include signs and symptoms of Ebola such as fever and body weakness associated with bleeding from any body orifices such as mouth, nose, eyes and ears.

“We have emphasized on communicating to the communities to take note of signs. All patients with diarrhoea, vomiting and fever with or without bleeding should immediately go to the nearest health facility.

‘‘History of travel or contact with a person with Ebola is vital in Ebola diagnosis,’’ he said.

Ebola information dissemination on prevention and health promotion activities and meetings will continue across the province this week.

‘‘All available channels of communication will be used to inform the community about how to protect themselves from this deadly virus infection,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Mwale has said the main challenge being faced was identification of isolation facilities in all districts.

However, the provincial health team was working through the District Commissioners’ offices and other stakeholders to ensure that each district had an isolation facility.