Zambia has had no Ebola case so far – Kasonde

Health Minister, Joseph Kasonde, says Zambia is among countries that have not had any cases of suspected Ebola within her borders but government has put external and internal measures in place to help prevent the disease from reaching the country.

Dr Kasonde says the issue of Ebola was critical and government was taking every    opportunity to address concerns raised by those who are charged with heavy responsibility of guarding the country’s entry points.

The Health Minister said this when he addressed stakeholders at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone yesterday on the position of Ebola and what government is doing to address it.

Dr Kasonde was reacting to concerns raised by various stakeholders who work at the airport.

He added that external measures were aimed at helping countries affected by Ebola to quench the fire, while internal measures were meant to ensure government had put in place measures to restrict movements in the country especially at entry points.

Dr Kasonde also appealed to members of the pubic to report any suspected cases of Ebola to relevant authorities.

He added the government had also procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as overalls, rubber aprons, gloves, gum boots, head clothing, eye goggles, head covering, face masks and shoe covers and had since distributed them to various entry points.

Dr Kasonde further explained that quarantined areas had also been positioned in different parts of the country and practical sessions by technical teams and locals had begun to demonstrate how to use the procured equipment.

He also added that countrywide sensitisations would be undertaken in schools, public places and all points of entry to explain to the people and appealed to individuals to act like soldiers to protect themselves and those around them.

Dr Kasonda also said SADC countries collaborated and agreed to protect their borders by restricting movements of people in their respective countries following the World Health Organisation’s declaration of international emergency on Ebola

“However, despite the capacity that Zambia has to contain Ebola, I recognise the weakness is that the health system lacks man power,” he said.

“Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe disease in humans caused by the Ebola virus. This virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contacts through broken skin or mucus membranes with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids,” he said.

Meanwhile, majority of hotels in the tourist capital, Livingstone, have been refusing to accommodate delegates that have come from countries affected by the Ebola disease.

About 500 delegates from different parts of Africa participating in international conference organised by the Examinations Council of Zambia in Livingstone, set to take place at Zambezi Sun Hotel from 11^th to 15^th August, have been denied accommodation and left stranded in the tourist capital.

This follows the press statement released on the threats of Ebola by government to restrict entry of any delegate from affected countries.

Government, through the Ministry of Health, has recommended that international events that many involve delegates from affected countries be postponed, cancelled or have delegates excluded.