Mnamo Januari 2020 Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) lilitangaza mlipuko wa ugonjwa mpya wa virusi vya korona katika Mkoa wa Hubei, Uchina, kuwa suala la Hali ya Hatari ya Afya ya Umma Kimataifa kwa sababu ya uwezekano mkubwa wa Ugonjwa wa Virusi vya Korona vya mwaka 2019 (UVIKO-19) kuenea duniani kote. Kufikia Aprili 2 2020, wagonjwa zaidi ya 896, 450 wameambukizwa katika nchi zaidi ya 200, zaidi ya watu 45, 526 wamekufa kutokana na ugonjwa huo, lakini wengine 135,000 pia wametibiwa na kupona tangu kuzuka kwa ugonjwa huo. Katika Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki matukio ya ugonjwa huu wameripotiwa nchini Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda na Tanzania. Watu wengi walioambukizwa huonyesha dalili zisizo kali na kiwango cha takribani 4% cha vifo ulimwenguni ni cha chini kikilinganishwa na magonjwa mengine ya kuambukiza yanayotokea ukanda huu kama vile VVU/UKIMWI, surua au Ebola. Janga hili halijaathiri tu sekta ya afya, bali limeathiri uchumi kwa ujumla, ikiwa ni pamoja na biashara na utalii, ambazo ndio nguzo kuu za maisha katika ukanda huu.
Ili kufanikiwa katika kukabiliana na janga hili, makundi yote katika jamii yetu ikiwa ni pamoja na waajiri na wafanyabiashara – ni lazima yahusike na kushirikiana. Kirusi ambacho husababisha Ugonjwa wa Virusi vya Korona (UVIKO-19) ni cha aina mpya ambacho hakikuwa kimewahi kutokea kwa binadamu hadi ugonjwa huo ulipozuka mwaka wa 2019.
Virusi vya Korona (ViKo) ni kundi kubwa la virusi ambavyo kwa kawaida hupatikana kwa wanyama na husababisha maradhi hatari yanyohusiana na upumuaji kama vile Dalili za Upumuaji za Middle East (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) na Dalili Kali na Hatari za Upumuaji (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS- CoV).
Virusi vya korona huambukizwa baina ya wanyama na watu. Uchunguzi wa kina ulibaini kuwa virusi vikali na hatari vya SARS-CoV viliambukizwa binadamu kutoka paka aina ya ngawa navyo virusi vya upumuaji vya MERS-CoV viliambukizwa binadamu kutoka ngamia wenye nundu moja. Kuna virusi vya korona vingine vinavyojulikana kuwa vinapatikana miongoni mwa wanyama bila kusababisha ugonjwa kwa binadamu.
Mlipuko wa UVIKO-19 umeathiri vibaya nchi nyingi duniani na umesababisha hasara kubwa katiak sekta mbalimbali za kiuchumi.
Katika sehemu ifuatayo tunatoa majibu ya maswali yanayoulizwa mara kwa mara kuhusu UVIKO-19:
+ Virusi vya Korona ni nini?
Virusi vya korona ni kundi kubwa la virusi ambayvo kwa kawaida hupatikana miongoni mwa wanyama na vinaweza kusababisha ugonjwa kwa wanyama na binadamu. Kwa binadamu, virusi vya korona husababisha magonjwa ya kupumua kama vile homa ya kawaida isiyo na dalili kali na Dalili za Upumuaji za Middle East (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) na Dalili Kali na Hatari za Upumuaji (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Virusi vilivyopatikana hivi karibuni husababisha Ugonjwa wa Virusi vya Korona, UVIKO-19.
+ Nini maana ya UVIKO-19?
UVIKO-19 ni kifupisho cha Ugonjwa wa Virusi vya Korona. Katika Kiingereza, UVIKO ni COVID (Corona Virus Disease). Katika kifupisho UVIKO-19, 'U' kinawakilisha 'Ugonjwa,' 'VI' 'Virusi,' na 'KO' ni Korona. Jina ‘COVID’ linafuata taratibu za Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) za kutaja magonjwa mapya ya kuambukiza kwa binadamu.
+ UVIKO-19 ni nini?
Ugonjwa wa Virusi vya Korona unafanana na homa ya mafua inayoambukizwa kwa kasi mno.
+ Nini dalili za UVIKO-19?
Dalili za kawaida za UVIKO-19 ni homa, uchovu, na kikohozi kikavu. Baadhi ya wagonjwa wanaweza kuwa na maumivu na uchungu, kubanwa pua, kutokwa kamasi, vidonda kooni au kuhara. Mara nyingi dalili hizi huwa si kali na huanza polepole. Watu wengine huambukizwa lakini hawaonyeshi dalili zozote na huwa hawajisikii vibaya. Watu wengi (takribani asilimia 80) hupona kutokana na ugonjwa huu bila kuhitaji matibabu maalum. Ni kama mtu mmoja kati ya watu sita wanaopata UVIKO-19 ndiye hudhoofika na kutatizika kupumua.
+ Ni nani aliye katika hatari kubwa zaidi ya kupata UVIKO-19?
Mtu yeyote anayekumbana na virusi vinavyosababisha UWIKO-19 yuko hatarini. Hata hivyo, watu wa umri mkubwa, na wale walio na hali nyingine za kiafya kama vile shinikizo la damu, magonjwa ya moyo na ugonjwa wa kisukari au wale ambao kinga ya mwili imedhoofika, kama vile watu walio na VVU/UKIMWI au saratani, wako katika hatari zaidi na wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kupata dalili kali.
+ Ninahitaji kuhofia watoto wangu?
Visa vya watoto kuambukizwa vimeripotiwa. Hata hivyo, watoto na hata vijana hawaonekani kuathiriwa sana na Ugonjwa wa Virusi vya Korona kama ilivyo kwa wazee.
+ UVIKO-19 husambaa vipi?
Ugonjwa huu unaweza kusambaa kutoka mtu mmoja kwenda mtu mwingine kupitia vitonetone wakati mtu aliyeambukizwa anapopiga chafya, anapokohoa au anapopumua. Wakati mwingine watu huambukizwa UVIKO-19 wanapogusa vitu au sehemu yenye virusi na kujigusa machoni, puani au mdomoni.
+ Ninaweza kujikinga vipi ili nisiambukizwe?
Njia bora ya kuzuia kuambukizwa ni kuepukana na kukumbana na virusi. Hili linawezekana kwa kuzingatia hali ya juu ya usafi, kuepuka kugusana na watu walioambukizwa na kujitenga na watu wengine kwa umbali wa futi 6, kwa sababu virusi hivyo husambaa mara nyingi kutoka mtu mmoja hadi kwa mwingine na baina ya watu waliokaribiana. Hili ni muhimu sana haswa kwa watu ambao wako katika hatari kubwa ya kuwa wagonjwa.
+ Ni hatua gani za usafi zilizo muafaka?
Safisha mikono yako mara kwa mara kwa kuiosha kwa sabuni na maji kwa angalau sekunde 20, haswa baada ya kuwa mahali pa umma, au baada ya kusafisha pua, kukohoa, au kupiga chafya.
Unaweza pia kutumia kitakasa mikono ambacho kina angalau asilimia 60 ya kileo. Sugua mikono yako mpaka ikauka.
Usijiguse machoni, puani na mdomoni kwa mikono isiyooshwa.
+ Ninahitaji kuvaa barakoa ili nijikinge na virusi hivi?
Huhitaji kuvaa barakoa kama wewe si mgonjwa au unamhudumia mgonjwa (ambaye hawezi kuvaa barakoa). Barakoa ziachiwe wale wanaozihitaji.
+ Ninaweza kufanya nini kuwakinga wengine iwapo mimi ni mgonjwa au nimepatikana na Ugonjwa wa Virusi vya Korona?
kiwa unaugua, usitoke nyumbani, isipokuwa pale unapohitaji huduma ya matibabu, hata kama haijathibitishwa kwamba umeambukizwa Virusi vya Korona au una homa ya kawaida. Pia:
Funika mdomo na pua kwa kitambaa wakati unapokohoa au kupiga chafya au fanya hivyo ndani ya kiwiko chako na ukioshe baadaye.
Tupa kifaa kilichotumika kwenye takataka.
Bila kuchelewa nawa mikono yako kwa sabuni na maji kwa angalau sekunde 20 au safisha mikono kwa kutumia kitakasa mikono chenye angalau silimia 60 ya kileo.
Vaa barakoa unapokuwa karibu na watu wengine (k.m. mnapotumia chumba kimoja au gari na kabla ya kuingia kwenye kituo cha afya.
Kwanza safisha halafu takasa kila siku sehemu zinazoguswa mara kwa mara, kama vile meza, vitasa vya milango, swichi za umeme, mipini, dawati, simu, kibodi, vyoo, bomba na sinki za maji.
+ Mtu aliyeachiliwa kutoka karantini ya UVIKO-19 anaweza kusambaza ugonjwa huo?
Mtu ambaye ameachiliwa kutoka karantini ya UVIKO-19 hana hatari ya kueneza virusi kwa sababu hakuonyesha dalili wakati wa kipindi alichokuwa amezuiliwa.
Maana ya karatinti ni kumtenga mtu (au kikundi cha watu) na watu wengine aliyekumbana na ugonjwa wa kuambukizwa lakini ambaye hajaonyesha dalili ili kuzuia kuenea kwa ugonjwa huo.
Karantini kwa kawaida hutegemea urefu wa kipindi cha ugonjwa wa kuambukizwa, ambao ni muda wa watu kuonyesha dalili za ugonjwa. Kwa UVIKO-19 kipindi hiki ni siku 14 kutoka tarehe ya mwisho kukumbana na ugonjwa huu, kwa kuwa siku 14 ndicho kipindi kirefu zaidi cha kupevuka kinachoonekana kwa virusi vingine vya aina hii ya korona.
+ Ni kwa namna gani ninaweza kuchangia kuzuia unyanyapaa wa watu wenye virusi vya UVIKO-19?
Hofu na wasiwasi vinaweza kusababisha unyanyapaa-kijamii, kwa mfano, kwa watu waliokuwa karantini ya UVIKO-19. Unyanyapaa unatokana na kutokuwa na habari kamili kuhusu UVIKO-19 na jinsi unavyoenea au kutokana na udaku na uzushi. Unaweza kuzuia unyanyapaa na kusaidia wengine kwa kutoa msaada wa kijamii.
Unaweza kupigana na unyanyapaa na kuwasaidia, na siyo kuwadhuru, wengine katika jamii. Unaweza kupinga unyanyapaa kwa kujifunza na kuwafunza wengine ukweli, kwa mfano kwamba virusi havilengi makundi fulani ya jamii.
Toa taarifa mpya kuhusu UVIKO-19 kwa wenzako lakini epukana na kueneza uongo.
+ Kuna tiba ya UVIKO-19?
Hakuna tiba maalum ya UVIKO-19. Usiwaamini watu wanaojaribu kukuuzia dawa na kuahidi kwamba watauponya ugonjwa huo. Magonjwa ya virusi yanaweza kuzuiwa na chanjo ikipatikana, lakini hayawezi kuponywa kwa kutumia viuavijasumu. Hata hivyo, matibabu au tiba inaweza kusaidia kupunguza dalili zinazoambatana na virusi, kama vile homa au kikohozi.
+ Kuna chanjo dhidi ya UVIKO-19?
Kufikia sasa, hakuna chanjo dhidi ya UVIKO-19. Wagonjwa watapata msaada na uangalizi kutoka kwa wahudumu wa afya hadi watakapopona.
+ Ni lazima niogope UVIKO-19?
Kila ugonjwa wa virusi ni hatari na UVIKO-19 unaambukizwa kwa wepesi sana. Ugonjwa huu unaweza kuenea kwa haraka mno na kuambukiza watu wengi katika kipindi kifupi. Hata hivyo, dalili za UVIKO-19 mara nyingi huwa si za kutisha. Wagonjwa wengi huwa hawaonani na daktari. Kiwango cha asilimia 4 ya vifo vya UVIKO-19 kinachotokea ni cha chini kikilinganishwa na magonjwa mengine ambayo yanatokea katika ukanda huu. Kwa Mfano: Kiwango cha vifo vya ugonjwa wa surua au virusi vya Ebola kinaweza kuwa zaidi ya asilimia 60 na hadi asilimia 100 ya watu wanaoambukizwa kichaa cha mbwa watakufa.
Mfano mwingine: Nchi ya Uchina, yenye watu zaidi ya bilioni 1.4, ni watu 80,000 tu ambao wamethibitishwa kuwa na UVIKO-19.
+ Ninaweza kufanya nini kuhakikisha maeneo ya kazi ni salama kwangu na kwa wenzangu?
Ikiwa UVIKO-19 utafika kazini kwako, unaweza kusimamisha au kuzuia kuenea kwake kwa kupunguza siku za kufanya kazi:
Hakikisha umedumisha usafi kila sehemu kazini kwako (k.m. madawati na meza) na vitu (k.m simu, kibodi). Vifute na vitakasa mara kwa mara.
Himiza wafanyikazi na wageni kuosha mikono kwa makini mara kwa mara.
Hakikisha maeneo ya kazi yana nafasi za kutosha kuruhusu hewa safi kuzunguka (usafi mzuri wa kupumua).
+ Ni salama kutumia usafiri wa umma (Daladala au Matatu) kipindi hiki cha UVIKO-19?
Abiria katika Matatu au Daladala huwa wamesongamana na hakuna njia ya kutenga nafasi baina ya abiria mmoja na yule anayekohoa na kupiga chafya na kuzuia kusambaa kwa vitonetotone kutoka pua yake na mdomo wake. Kwa hivyo, utumiaji wa usafiri wa umma una hatari kubwa ya maambukizi ya UVIKO-19 na magonjwa mengine ya kuambukiza. Ikiwezekana, usafiri mbadala utumiwe kana njia ya kuzuia maambukizi wakati huu wa UVIKO-19.
+ Ninaweza kuhudhuria ibada?
Huu ni uamuzi wa kibinafsi. Kwa hakika, ibada inaweza kusaidia kuenea maambukizi kwa kuwa watu wengi hukusanyika na kukaa na kusimama karibu-karibu.Ukifikiri kuwa kuhudhuria ibada ni bora kuliko kujikinga dhidi ya UVIKO-19, basi huo utakuwa uamuzi wako binafsi. Ukiamua kuhudhuria ibada, jitenge na washiriki wenzako kadri iwezekanavyo na epuka kusalimiana. Unaweza pia kumhusisha kiongozi wako wa dini katika kulishughulikia janga hili. Ikiwa tayari una UVIKO-19, KAMWE usiende kwenye ibada, kwa kuwa utahatarisha usalama wa wenzako.
+ Waafrika wana kinga dhidi ya UVIKO-19?
Habari zisizo za kweli vimeanza kuibuka kuhusu UVIKO-19. Mojapo ni kwamba Waafrika wana kinga dhidi ya UVIKO-19. Usiamini habari kama hizo. Ugonjwa huu haumbagui mtu yeyote. Tayari zaidi ya nchi 35 za Afrika zimeripoti matukio ya visa vya UVIKO-19, uthibitisho kwamba hakuna usalama bila tahadhari na kujikinga.
+ Je, kula nyama ya mwituni kuna hatari ya maambukizi ya UVIKO-19?
Nyama ya mwituni inadhaniwa kuwa chanzo cha janga la sasa la virusi vya korona. Virusi vya korona na bakteria nyingine hujitokeza kwa kawaida katika wanyama. Kwa hivyo, mchakato wa kuandaa nyama ya kula unahitaji kufuata kanuni za maandalizi safi na salama ya chakula. Nyama inapaswa kukaguliwa na wataalam wanaohusika na watumiaji wanashauriwa kuiandaa vizuri, kwa kupika au kuikaanga ili iive na isiwe mbichi.
+ Wagonjwa waliopona kutokana na UVIKO-19 wana kinga dhidi ya virusi hivyo?
Ni mapema mno kutoa jubu la uhakika. Hata hivyo, kuna ushahidi wa kisayansi unaonyesha kuwa mtu aliyeambukizwa UVIKO-19 na kupona hujenga aina fulani ya kinga dhidi ya mbegu ya kirusi iliyosababisha maambukizi. Wanasayansi nchini Uchina kwa makusudi waliambukiza nyani aina ya ngedere UVIKO-19 na pia wakawaambukiz ngedere walionusurika kiwango kikubwa cha virusi. Hakuna ngedere aliyeambukizwa mara ya pili aliyekuwa mgonjwa. Mkabiliano wa kujikinga na maradhi wa ngedere unafanana kwa kiasi fulani na ule wa binadamu. Hivyo, wataalamu kwa makini wanafasiri matokeo ya jaribio hilo kumaanisha kuwa binadamu aliyepona UVIKO-19 akiambukizwa tena hawezi kuathirika sana..
+ Bidhaa kutoka Uchina ni salama?
Majaribio ya kisayansi yalionyesha kuwa virusi vinavyosababisha UVIKO-19 vinaweza kuishi kwa nguo au sehemu ya juu ya kitu kwa saa kadhaa, kutegema hali nyingine kama vile kiwango cha joto, unyevunyevu na kadhalika. Iwapo bidhaa kutoka Uchina vitakuwa vimechafuliwa na virusi huwa vinasafiri masafa marefu kabla kufika Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki. Hivyo, itakuwa vigumu kwa virusi hivyo kuwa bado hai. Hata hivyo, ikiwa maana ya ‘bidhaa’ ni pamoja na wanyama hai walio na virusi, bila shaka maambukizi yanaweza kutokea. Hivyo, Uchina imeweka marufuku ya biashara ya kigeni ya wanyama wa mwituni.
+ Ninaweza kupata UVIKO-19 kwa nguo kuukuu kutoka ng’ambo?
Virusi vinavyosababisha UVIKO-19 vinaweza kuishi kwa nguo au sehemu ya juu ya kitu kwa saa kadhaa, kutegema hali nyingine kama vile kiwango cha joto au unyevunyevu. Hata hivyo, iwapo nguo kuukuu zilitoka ng’ambo, zilisafiri masafa marefu na zitakuwa zilisafishwa na kuwekwa dawa ya kuua viini vya maradhi kabla ya kuuzwa kama inavyopendekezwa na viwango vya biashara ya kimataifa. Kwa hali hii, ni vigumu kwa virusi kupatikana katika nguo kuukuu. Ikiwa bado una shaka na unataka uhakika na kuwa salama kabisa, osha nguo hizo kwa kutumia sabuni ya unga kwenye maji moto ya digrii 60 au zaidi. Hii itaviua virusi.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 20 February, 2020; The EAC Secretariat just finalised an intensive training programme for laboratory experts to detect and diagnose the new novel corona virus (COVID-19) in the East African Community region.
The training was conducted under the EAC Network of Public Health Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases (Mobile Labs Programme) in collaboration with the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM). The programme is part of the financial support provided to the EAC Region by the German Development Bank (KfW) on behalf of Federal Republic of Germany. The training aimed at building capacity in the region to detect COVID-19.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 27 January 2020. The EAC Secretariat issues an alert to all Partner States after an infectious disease outbreak caused by a novel Corona virus in the city of Wuhan, Republic of China. By 26 January 2020 the number of reported confirmed cases had increased to more than 2,000 people and 56 had died according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Most of the cases occurred in China and sporadic ones have been reported from Australia, France, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Vietnam. Nearly all of them have links to Wuhan. For the time being WHO decided against declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) but is closely monitoring the development.
The East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC), an Institution of the East African Community (EAC), has established the Young East African Health Research Scientists Forum (YEARS' FORUM) which is an initiative that aims at empowering young East African researchers to be able to shape the future of research for health in the region.
YEARS’ Forum was approved by the 15th EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health (EAC/Health/15SCM/Decision 22) as one of the pre-conference meetings of the East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) and launched by the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania during the 7th EAHSC held in Dar es Salaam from 27th – 29th March 2019. YEARS’ Forum creates a culture of research and support for young scientists in health science by building a network of six PhD students from each of the six EAC countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) and linking them with a network of senior health research professionals across the region, and at the same time each of the six PhD students establishing a team of six members with similar interest in his/her country to work together in defined research activities.
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 2ND EAC JOINT MINISTERIAL, DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS’ AND INVESTORS’ ROUNDTABLE ON INVESTMENT IN HEALTH
THEME: ENHANCING HEALTH SECTOR INVESTMENTS, WELLBEING AND WEALTH CREATION IN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
HILTON HOTEL, NAIROBI, REPUBLIC OF KENYA
1st NOVEMBER 2019
We, the Ministers responsible for Health in the EAC Partner States in collaboration with Investors, Development Partners, Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations’ Leaders, assembled here in Nairobi City, Republic of Kenya, today the 1st of November, 2019, for the 2nd EAC Joint Ministerial, Development Partners and Investors’ Roundtable on Investment in Health;
Noting that the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community provides for the promotion of the management of health delivery systems and better planning mechanisms to enhance efficiency within the Partner States;
Further noting that significant strides have been made in the development of policies to enhance cooperation in health and observing that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, target 3.8 on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially access to quality essential health care services, equity and financial risk protection;
Acknowledging that Universal Health Coverage is only achievable if there is political commitment from the Partners States and accountable governance in the policy making and service delivery process;
Concerned that external funding in health especially vertical programs such as HIV, TB, Malaria and immunization, is expected to decline over the coming years and could affect the gains made in health for the EAC Partner states;
Appreciating the continued support and commitment from the health development partners, Investors, Civil Society Organizations and the Private Sector;
Concerned about the high level of out of pocket expenditure for health services in the EAC region, for Partner States, compared to the recommended WHO threshold of 20%, and leading to catastrophic expenditures and later on to impoverishment of families,
Recognising that health is wealth and that investing in health is the cornerstone for socioeconomic transformation;
We, the Ministers responsible for Health in the EAC Partner States, in collaboration with Investors, Development Partners, Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations’ Leaders, on this First day of November 2019 hereby resolve to:
Continue to provide leadership and support in the implementation of the Health Sector investment priorities especially the operationalisation of the EAC Regional Centers of Excellence in Partner States;
Explore and implement innovative financing mechanisms to increase domestic resources for health in Partner States
Continue to support the strengthening of EAC regional capacities for infrastructure and human resources development for the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery from epidemic prone infectious diseases
Support mechanisms geared towards strengthening health professional regulatory bodies to ensure availability and performance of qualified and skilled workforce for the delivery of quality health care services;
Strengthen the capacities of National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) to improve access to quality, efficacious and affordable medicines in Partner States in line with the EAC decision;
Oversee the conduct of regular performance review, the generation of evidence for knowledge management and evaluation of programs in the health sector to inform policies for better delivery of quality health care;
Support the implementation of the digital health initiatives in Partner States for efficient health care service delivery;
Enhance Investors, Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders engagement through Public Private Partnership to support governments towards better health care service delivery and attainment of Universal Health Coverage;
Sustain efforts in advocating for increased domestic financing for the Health Sector;
Promote and coordinate the establishment of an accountability framework for all health sector stakeholders.
...as region looks to mobilize USD$3.5 billion for Nine (9) Health Sector Priorities
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 31st October 2019: The Chairperson of EAC the Sectoral Council on Health and Minister of State In charge of Public Health and Primary Health in Rwanda, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi has said investment in health is critical for ensuring human and socio-economic development in East Africa.
“As we invest in health, it’s my conviction that our investments are made in strategic areas, that offer maximum value for money and benefit to the people of East Africa,” said Dr. Ndimubanzi.
The Minister called for stronger partnerships that leverage the unique skills and resources of governments, civil society, and the private sector to improve the delivery of health services in the region.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 26th October, 2019: Preparations are in high gear for the 2nd East African Community (EAC) Heath Sector Ministerial, Development Partners and Investors Roundtable scheduled to take place from 31st October to 1st November, 2019 at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.
The two-day roundtable event themed: “Enhancing Health Sector Investments, Wellbeing and Wealth Creation in the East African Community" is expected to, among other things, provide an opportunity to consolidate efforts and resources of Partner States, Development Partners and Investors towards elaborately defined priorities and investment cases; share experiences, management challenges and visions of future financing trends and issues in order to instruct, improve, enlighten and secure sustainable resources for health and HIV in the EAC region, and; marshal financial and technical resources for implementation of the nine EAC Regional Health Sector Investment Priorities.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 22 July 2019: The confirmation of a fatal Ebola case in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) further increases the risk for the East African Community (EAC) region of the outbreak crossing the borders. The Ituri province is only 70 km from the South Sudanese border and even closer to the Ugandan border. The first three cases of Ebola in the EAC region were diagnosed in Uganda in June 2019 and triggered strong response measures by the Ugandan government. Trade is vibrant between DRC and the EAC region and can exacerbate the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) due to the high mobility of people and goods. In the light of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared by the World Health Organization,) Dr Michael Katende, acting Head of Health at the EAC Secretariat urges the Partner States to strongly engage the communities in the border regions and traders and trade associations in risk and crisis communication measures. “This is particularly important, as most of the border line is porous and difficult to control” says Katende, “informal and formal traders need to know the risk and be able to take informed decisions to minimise it and to actively take precautions.”
EAC Partner States have put in place precautionary measures to stop the spread of EVD into the EAC region. This includes vaccinating frontline health workers, screening all travellers at points of entry including airports and training the first responders in case of an outbreak. However, these measures might not be sufficient. Dr Michael Katende, acting Head of Health at the EAC Secretariat was especially concerned about EVD spreading into South Sudan with its still rather weak health system.
The EAC Secretariat calls upon the Partner States to increase risk and crisis communication by involving community, religious and other leaders and the media in public awareness raising. At the same time, the Secretariat calls upon traders and trade associations and those travelling across the border with DRC to take extra precaution, as the EVD threat is real:
All people crossing the border should cooperate with immigration, health and security officials who are conducting screening at the points of entry and should strictly follow their advice.
Frontline health workers and members of the affected communities should accept to be vaccinated against EVD for their own protection and to help prevent the further spread of EVD.
People in the affected regions should avoid unnecessary ‘body to body’ contact as this is the main way of disease transmission.
The public should be vigilant and immediately inform the nearest health workers when spot a person with signs of EVD which are: fever, severe headache, body weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained haemorrhage (bleeding or bruising) from various body outlets like the nose, ears and mouth. This is particularly important along the “green border” where no screening measures are in place.
-ENDS-
Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 17th June, 2019: The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat successfully concluded a three-day cross-border Field Simulation Exercise, conducted on the Kenya – Tanzania border at Namanga One Stop Border Post (OSBP), with critical results and lessons for pandemic preparedness and response.
Over 250 participants from both countries, besides those from Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda took part in the exercise. The exercise was conducted based on a scenario of an outbreak of a disease that impacts both human and animal lives and their livelihoods, including agriculture, tourism, security, trade and the economy as a whole.The exercise created an opportunity in which participants were able to identify strengths and weaknesses and facilitate practical corrective actions at all levels.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania 11th June, 2019: The Field Simulation Exercise (FSX) organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the World Health Organization(WHO) through the “Support to Pandemic Preparedness in the EAC Region” (PanPrep) has started at Namanga border between the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The main objective of the four-day exercise is to assess coordination mechanisms, command and control systems and information sharing channels between multiple sectors and countries; (e.g. activation of the EAC emergency structure, incident management systems and relevant emergency operations centre.
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
