Tanzania Upgrades Its Health Services In Order To Detect And Manage Ebola At Airports

Posted on :Wednesday , 7th August 2019

Tanzania has enhanced its preparedness for identifying and managing imported cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) through airports.

Director of preventive services at the ministry of Health, Leonard Subi, said that they have gained nine walk-through thermal scanners.

He informed that the machines will be installed at Songwe, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro airports as well as some border posts.

Dr Subi further noted, "recently we installed two at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) terminal three, we will soon do the same at the other airports.”

He also said, “We are pledged to strengthening screaning of passengers without harassing them as required by International Health Regulations of 2005.”

Dr Subi was speaking to The Citizen shortly after an emergence video conference meeting, which brought together officials from the Health ministry, including chief government medical officer, World Health Organisation (WHO) and Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA).

Mr Daniel Malanga, the Capsca national coordinator, said the aviation industry was doing enough good in areas like having personnel protective equipment and emergence preparedness plan including undertaking both table top and full drill exercises.

The representative from WHO- Tanzania, Dr Grace Saguti, called for strengthening of Tanzania’s capacities to prevent, rapidly detect, investigate and respond to EVD after assessment and identification of existing capacities and gaps.

She suggested, “You need to ensure effective coordination, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the EVD operational readiness and preparedness.”

TCAA director general Hamza Johari, said, “the outcomes are promising, but more should be done."

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