Africa: DRC and RWANDA establish common preventive mechanisms for response to Ebola

In a joint communiqué signed on behalf of the DRC by interim Minister of Public Health Pierre Kangudia and on behalf of Rwanda, by Dr Diane Gashumba, Minister of Health, the DRC and Rwanda have decided to implement preventive mechanisms to contain Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and secure transboundary flows to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

This should be done jointly and in consultation with the private sector and civil society so as not to affect cross-border socio-economic exchanges between the two countries. Experts from the two countries will meet in Gisenyi on Wednesday to finalize the roadmap and budget for their respective states and traditional partners.

In addition, it was decided that as part of strengthening the coordination of prevention and case management of EVD, a team of Rwandan medical professionals will carry out an exchange of experience with their Congolese counterparts.

Finally, both parties reiterated WHO’s call for EVD to be a public health emergency of international concern.

The meeting was attended by the Congolese delegation of Olivier Mondonge, deputy chief of staff of the Head of State, in charge of humanitarian affairs; Pierre Kangudia, Interim Minister of Health; the governor of North Kivu; the response coordination team led by Dr. Muyembe as well as the provincial security officials and the Representatives of the Republic of Rwanda engaged in the fight against EBOLA.

The major objective of this tete-a-tete, to obtain a high-level political commitment that can guide the strengthening of cross-border cooperation in disease surveillance for the preparation and response of this epidemic that is disturbing these two neighboring countries. Indeed, the DRC shares seven formal entry points with Rwanda, including three in the province of North Kivu (Great and Small Barrier) and four with the province of South Kivu.

The entry point of the Little Barrier in the city of GOMA with a migratory flow around 64 000 passengers per day is the second in the world after that between India and Bangladesh.

Thus, this exchange will result in the establishment of common mechanisms for the prevention and management of EVD cases, including surveillance, information sharing, vaccination and care. It should also lead to the adoption of a cross-border roadmap.

Agnes KAYEMBE