The United States has requested the Rwandan government to provide medical assistance to African countries hit by the Ebola epidemic that has claimed over 2,200 people since its outbreak.

The formal request was made yesterday by Donald W. Koran, the US envoy to Rwanda, during his first official discussion with Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi.

According to Stella Ford Mugabo, the minister for Cabinet affairs, the request was "well received” by the prime minister, although the decision will be made within two months after careful assessment of Rwanda’s capabilities.

"After receiving the request, the prime minister promised that it will be discussed with the Ministry of Health and with the government before a decision is made,” Mugabo told The New Times yesterday.

"The decision will depend on analysing what capacities we have and what impact it can have on us. If we are in position to dispatch some people to certain areas that are affected, then government will go ahead. Right now, neither I nor the prime minister can commit to a decision.”

Emergency situation

Mugabo said since the Ebola epidemic is an emergency situation, a decision will be made fast, and that discussions are already ongoing between the US government and several government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Health.

"The situation in Ebola stricken areas is challenged by lack of medical personnel to help out.

The US has been providing doctors but they are looking at other countries that can chip in, and they approached us because we have a track record of providing assistance in countries facing different challenges,” Mugabo said.

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced a "major increase” in his country’s response to the Ebola outbreak.

The US will send troops, material to build field hospitals, additional health care workers, community care kits and badly needed medical supplies.

"They definitely know that we have the capacity in several areas, but they also know that we have limited capacity on supply (of medical personnel) and in several areas. Therefore, it may not be doctors that we send, but we can look at our capacities and see where we can help,” Mugabo added.

She said government has been working with the US to build Rwanda’s medical capacity over the last three years.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 2,200 people, 150 health workers, as well as infecting at least 300 health workers.

The outbreak, that has mainly affected Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Nigeria, was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organisation.

Amb. Koran said the bulk of US’s assistance to Rwanda goes into the health sector, accounting for about $90 million per year.

"This was an introductory call to discuss the prime minister’s priorities and how we can work together on a number of areas of mutual interest. In particular, we discussed our strong cooperation in the health sector, including possible cooperation on Ebola and HIV/Aids-related issues,” Koran said.

Isolation of Ebola-hit countries

If government decides to send medical personnel, it will represent a change of heart from a position it held not so long ago.

The Minister for Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, last month announced that Rwanda would "take the same route”, in light of several airlines, such as Kenya Airways, suspending flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Rwanda is not the only country that has been approached by the US to intervene, although it should take the lead in refusing to isolate its "brothers and sisters” who are in a time of crisis, according to Mugabo.

"The solution is not to cut off countries that are facing this problem, nor is it good if the rest of the world cuts Africa off because of this problem. It is, of course, risky but measures must be in place to prevent it from spreading to Rwanda. Otherwise, running away is not the answer,” she said.

"We cannot be an island by isolating our fellow brothers and sisters. We have to find measures to protect ourselves, but also find ways to support those in need. Why should America come in with their doctors to support, why shouldn’t African countries help one another?”

The Head of Rwanda Health Communications Centre, Nathan Mugume, declined to comment on the matter, saying the ministry will do so once the decision is taken.

Since the virus was detected in March in Guinea, there has been no case of Ebola in Rwanda.

However, the Ministry of Health put in place several preventive measures including screening travelers entering the country and imposing a travel ban to and fro the Ebola-hit countries.