The Deputy Director of Epidemiology in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Clementine Muruoa, says all necessary precautions to prevent the outbreak of Ebola in Namibia are now in place. Muruoa who delivered an update on the countrys preparedness for the Ebola Viral Disease in Windhoek on Monday said although it is important to be vigilant, there was no reason to panic. She indicated that the Health Ministry had active disease surveillance mechanisms in place, with disease surveillance officers appointed in every region. Muruoa explained that Standard Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response guidelines are in place and that the National Health Emergency Management Committee has been holding weekly meetings on Ebola preparedness since June. Coordinators have also attended training under the auspices of the World Health Organisation in Congo Brazzaville, while similar training for immigration and customs officials has been completed. She stated that infection prevention and control training of health workers and training of health workers on Ebola has in addition been completed. The health official also revealed that the ministry is considering sending staff to assist in the affected countries, although she did not specify when this would happened or how many staff members might be sent.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:18:49 +0000