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NewsDay

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Ebola outbreak: Time to up health sector investment

Opinion & Analysis
REPORTS that Zimbabwe is considering declaring a health alert for all the travellers who have visited or transited from West Africa or the DRC

REPORTS that Zimbabwe is considering declaring a health alert for all the travellers who have visited or transited from West Africa or the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the wake of an Ebola outbreak is a welcome development, although it has come a little bit late.

NewsDay Editorial

Government is also proposing to ban travellers from Ebola concentrated areas in five West African countries as a way to assure the public of its commitment to keep the virus beyond our borders.

We are sure that even those countries whose citizens could be banned from traveling into the country will understand the reasons behind the stringent travel ban.

The measures could be the only way to combat the spread of the deadly virus given the country’s lack of preparedness. Not that this will remove all chances of the spread of the virus but that it will reduce the risk. Zimbabwe needs a national Ebola preparedness and response strategy. So, government should implement stringent measures at all the ports of entry to screen such cases.

But, the Health ministry should first educate the public about the scary Ebola virus through an awareness campaign so that people are able to take precautionary measures.

Although Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa, who hinted to journalists in Harare yesterday that stringent measures against West Africans were being worked out, believes Zimbabwe is not entirely at risk, the fact that an Ebola case was recorded in the DRC means this region is exposed and Zimbabwe has a high risk of an outbreak any time due to its unpreparedness.

The inter-ministerial taskforce on the national Ebola preparedness and response chaired by deputy chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Ray Ndhlukula should, therefore, look at all possible ways to protect the people against the Ebola virus.

Zimbabweans were worried why government took long to strategise against the outbreak and yet the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has prompted hospitals and health authorities in other countries to take precautions that often go beyond experts’ recommendations, showing the impact of public concern about the deadly disease.

Without a doubt, Zimbabwe’s risk is high hence stringent measures must be taken to protect the population. Zimbabwe must take all precautionary steps, including inception of quarantine facilities.

We agree that there are a lot of consequences associated with Ebola and Zimbabwe must look at various options on how to manage it, given the impact of the outbreak on the economy and social interactions within and among other countries.

Those locals returning from the affected areas should be thoroughly screened for the deadly virus. Health workers must therefore be equipped to tackle any outbreak anywhere in the country.

The World Health Organisation recently declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a global health emergency. Therefore, all countries must likewise take precautionary measures and prepare themselves against unforeseen circumstances.

This virus is hitting countries with some of the weakest health systems in the world. No doubt Zimbabwe is one of them given it does not even have enough trained doctors and nurses; clinics that don’t have enough supplies to run labs and villages that don’t have running water or reliable electricity.

The Ebola outbreak has shown just how important it is to have strong health systems in place. There is definitely great need to fight for long-term investments in health.

Consequently, stakeholders in Zimbabwe ought to work together to stop Ebola in its tracks.

Zimbabweans must also desist from traveling to the affected areas. It’s just uncomfortable for us as a country and we must protect each other.