By SYLVESTER MWALE –
THE growing fear over the spread of the yellow fever virus has forced some countries to employ prohibitive and cumbersome restrictions on travels from one country to another.
This is based on the realisation that there is no specific treatment for yellow fever and vaccination is the most important preventive measure against pandemic.
In fact, experts say just one injection of yellow fever vaccine gives protection for 10 years or more. Vaccination is essential in countries where the disease is prevalent, and for people planning to travel in those countries.
Forty-four endemic countries in Africa and Latin America, with a combined population of over 900 million are at risk.
In Africa, an estimated 508 million people live in 31 countries at risk, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It is against this background that countries decided to put up measures that would prevent or mitigate the risks of transmitting the virus from one country to another.
As of October 1, 2011, South Africa required that all travellers journeying from yellow fever risk countries to show proof of yellow fever vaccination by means of a valid yellow fever certificate.
Apparently, the new policy direction meant that Zambians needed to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate every time they travelled to Johannesburg even when Zambia is rated to be a fever risk low risk country.
The situation was hardly different from Botswana which equally required that Zambians travelling to Gaborone are vaccinated and have a certificate to authenticate.
Failure to produce a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate at a port of entry in these countries could lead to refusal of entry, or quarantine until the traveller’s certificate is proven valid.
“They did not just refuse entry; it was a big mistake to move to travel to South Africa without the yellow fever certificate because they will also harass you,” said Simon Chaima, a cross-border trader from COMESA market in Lusaka.
The situation was unabated despite scientific evidence suggesting that Zambia had low yellow fever potential exposure.
WHO Director General Margaret Chan wrote to the Zambian Government that results from scientific studies done in Zambia in 2013 had been analysed.
“It has been shown from these scientific studies that Zambia has low Yellow Fever potential exposure status,” she said.
In accordance with the WHO’s health regulations, yellow fever vaccinations are not recommended in such cases. Therefore, the Zambian Government engaged both South Africa and Botswana governments to inform them about this status.
This culminated into the decision to waive the requirement of having a yellow fever vaccination certificate last month by South Africa and Botswana.
According to the department of health in South Africa, the decision comes after the WHO confirmed that Zambia had low yellow fever potential exposure status, which means travellers should not be required to carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said the South African Government had agreed to allow Zambian travellers to enter South Africa without having a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
How does that help Zambia and its people? What is the benefit of the waiver, or how best can this be turned into an opportunity for many?
These are some of the questions being asked and the Sunday Times talked to some institutions to find out how the new measure taken by South Africa and Botswana could help the Zambian travellers.
“This is great news to cross-border traders; we have been waiting for this for a long time,” said COMESA/SADC Traders Trust chairperson Donald Kachingwe.
“Many cross-border traders have suffered and lost out on business because of this requirement. Apart from that, these countries were very strict that they would harass you and send you back if you do not have a yellow fever certificate.”
Mr Kachingwe, who commended the Government for facilitating the removal of the certificate, said the new measure would act as a boost of business to cross-border traders.
The yellow fever requirement was equally bemoaned by the tourism industry in Zambia, which suggested that it was putting travellers off the destination.
This was authenticated by the fact that tourists could shun Zambia by visiting the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe without having a vaccination which was a requirement for Zambia. The move has therefore sparked jubilations among the players in the sector.
“We are happy that South Africa and Botswana have decided to drop their demands on the yellow fever certification because this was creating a negative impact on the growth of the tourism sector in Zambia,” said Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) chairperson Felix Mulenga.
“As you know South Africa is an important market for Zambia and currently is Zambia’s leading source market for tourists.”
Mr Mulenga said the removal of the yellow fever certification for travellers from South Africa or through South Africa to Zambia would significantly improve the tourist arrivals from that country.
Most players in the tourism sector are of the view that the requirement of yellow fever had become a hindrance in that international visitors considered it expensive to travel to Zambia.
Besides, being an economic power house in Africa, South Africa has attracted a good number of businessmen not only from Zambia, but also other countries whose citizens are equally restricted.
Therefore, Zambians are rejoicing with the move and hope to capitalise on the twist in policy direction.
“I am happy that the yellow fever certificate has been eliminated finally,” said Miriam Banda, a business executive who often travels to South Africa. “This will not only make it cheap but also convenient for many people who are travelling to South Africa.”
She also noted that the yellow fever requirement had created fraudulent activities in that some people were just buying the yellow fever card without being vaccinated.
“There are many I know that have just connived with health officials, or on the street,” she added. “If you go to Inter City (Bus Terminus), this is not a problem, because they will definitely issue you with one, so there was no honesty in the acquisition of the yellow fever certificate.”
It is hardly an exaggeration of the truth that the requirement of yellow fever vaccination certificate had been hindering the promotion of tourism as well as smooth business encounters between Zambia and South Africa.
Traders were equally inconvenienced as those who failed to produce one at any entry point faced serious harassment.
Therefore, its removal should act as a catalyst to the promotion of tourism and great business opportunities for many Zambians.