.Dr. Kasonde

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –

HEALTH Minister, Joseph Kasonde has issued a Statutory Instrument (SI) declaring Ebola as a notifiable disease under the provisions of Public Health Act.
The SI 49 of 2014 compels health workers to notify the minister of Health in the event the disease is recorded anywhere in the country.
Health deputy minister Chitalu Chilufya announced the signing of the SI when he received preparedness supplies from the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday at the ministry of Health headquarters.
“The Zambian Government has recognised Ebola as a public health emergency and yesterday the Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde signed a Statutory Instrument that declared Ebola virus as a notifiable disease in accordance with section 29 of the Public Health Act Cap 295,” Dr Chilufya said.
He said Government had deployed health workers at the border points to detect people who might be infected by the virus.
“We have also acquired metric fever scanning which we are installing at Kenneth Kaunda International and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe airports, we are in a process of acquiring more,” he said.
He said the heightened awareness of Ebola by involving the media was encouraging various stakeholders to ensure that they get on board in the awareness campaigns.
Dr Chilufya commended WHO for partnering with Government in the pre-epidemic combat of the Ebola virus and thanked the organisation for the donation.
At the same function, WHO acting representative, Jean-marie Dangou commended Government for demonstrating  commitment in putting in place containment measures for Ebola virus in case of an outbreak in Zambia.
Professor Dangou said the measures taken by Government were in line with the WHO international regulations of 2005 which provide recommendations for the control of international spread of disease
across the border.
“Although there is no case of Ebola virus disease in the country, it is critical to put in place necessary preventive and response measures to protect the general populace and the health workers,” Prof Dangou said.
He said the healthcare system should be prepared to detect, investigate and manage Ebola cases.
The first donation of Ebola preparedness supplies was valued at US$50, 000 which includes 290 complete Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE), 130 hand sprayers, 65 back pack sprayers, 250 pairs of gumboots and many other preparedness supplies.
He said the WHO country office remains committed to support Government in implementing preparedness and response activities at various levels.