SADC calls for improved outbreak preparedness amid DRC Ebola outbreak
Africa CDC's Dr Peter Kumpalume says the region must stand together in responding to health threats.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has prompted the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to call for improved health emergency preparedness across the region. During high-level health discussions in Durban, regional leaders are considering measures to enhance their readiness for future outbreaks. The Africa CDC Southern Regional Coordinator, Doctor Peter Kumpalume, emphasized that countries must bolster disease surveillance, early warning systems, and cross-border information sharing to swiftly detect and contain outbreaks.
Kumpalume warned that no single country can tackle these challenges alone, stressing the need for collective action.
Kumpalume highlighted the importance of investing in early warning and surveillance systems, cross-border information exchange, laboratory capacity, emergency response, and effective community engagement. SADC member states are expected to finalize a joint regional response plan within the next two weeks to bolster preparedness for the Ebola outbreak.
SADC's senior health officer, Lamboly Kumboneki, disclosed that ministers have agreed to share critical health data and establish a regional alert system that will notify member states of an outbreak within 24 hours. Kumboneki explained that measures such as airport screening and temperature checks are crucial in triaging passengers and preventing disease spread across borders.
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