SADC prepares regional plan against Ebola
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on SABC News
SADC is to draw up a regional Ebola response plan within two weeks and share health alerts within 24 hours. The measures also target surveillance, laboratories and cross-border information, according to SADC officials Peter Kumpalume and Lamboly Kumboneki.
Member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) plan to draw up a joint regional plan within the next two weeks to strengthen preparedness for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reports SABC News. Health ministers also agreed to share critical health information and establish a regional alert system capable of notifying member states within 24 hours of an outbreak being detected.
Africa CDC Southern Regional Coordinator Peter Kumpalume called for stronger disease surveillance, early warning systems, laboratory capacity, emergency response capabilities and information sharing at borders. He announced a meeting the following week in Johannesburg focused on countries’ preparedness for a first Ebola case.
SADC health and HIV official Lamboly Kumboneki said several states had already strengthened controls at airports, including screening forms and temperature checks. Regional discussions also cover malaria, HIV, climate change and medicine supplies, according to SABC News. They follow recent calls by Africa CDC for better coordination of the Ebola response.
