2014-08-26 16:42:00

CRS hands out Ebola Information kits to Churches in Zambia


The Zambia Episcopal Conference together with several NGOs have received information kits on Ebola specially developed for Zambia by Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Zambia’s CRS Country Representative, Dane Fredenburg, says his organisation is keen to ensure widespread information-sharing on the Ebola virus disease. He says that CRS was eager to make available the information resources in order to encourage NGOs and Churches share this same information widely, especially at the health facility level.

Given that the Catholic Church provides close to 70% of all rural health care in Zambia, the information kits comprising a fact-sheet and several colour posters, will be welcome support in public health efforts against misinformation and panic.

Zambia, this month, banned entry into the country of people coming from West African countries where the Ebola virus disease has broken out. However, Zambia’s Health Minister, Joseph Kasonde has denied ever issuing a travel ban clarifying that his statement was merely a travel advisory for anyone travelling to and from the affected countries. He added that the travel advisory was a precautionary measure to ensure that Ebola does not reach Zambia. The Zambian Government says it has tightened health screening measures at all port entries.

Over the weekend, the South African Government issued an immediate travel ban for non-South Africans from countries affected by the Ebola virus outbreak. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was quoted by the South African Broadcasting Corporation imposing a total travel ban for all non-citizens travelling from the three countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Motsoaledi further told reporters in Pretoria that South African citizens travelling to the three countries would be requested to delay or justify their need to travel.

Kenya is also believed to have issued a similar travel ban

The World Health Organization is discouraging airlines and countries from issuing bans to avoid isolating the three countries in West Africa. They insist that Ebola is only contagious when symptoms start to show and then one would need to have been in contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons.

(Paul Samasumo) e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va








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