East African Community (EAC) Ministers for Health and others responsible for regional affairs met Wednesday, March 25, by video conference in a session chaired by Dr. Daniel Ngamije, Rwanda's Minister of Health.
Ngamije is also the current Chairperson of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for Health.
All six countries were represented at the meeting that was aimed at sharing information on the COVID-19 outbreak, deliberate on the COVID-19 Pandemic, map up containment strategies to stem out any further spread of the disease in the region.
The meeting also aimed at developing a clear plan to mitigate impacts caused by the pandemic in the region.
Apart from Burundi and South Sudan, other member states have registered cases of the virus.
Besides a list of 12 emergency resolutions and directives, according to the joint statement, the ministers resolved to constitute an Adhoc Regional Coordination Committee on COVID-19 response with members from each partner state, the EAC Secretariat, East African health Research Commission and the East Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC).
The 12 resolutions
First, the Ministers directed all Partner States to continue implementing mandatory quarantine for 14 days for all travelers to the region, and avoid imported cases by implementing strict screening procedures at all border points.
They resolved to maintain suspension of EAC regional face-to-face meetings and urged the bloc's organs and institutions to use modern technology such as video-conferences, Webinars and Skype call for holding such meetings until such a time when the situation has been contained.
The ministers also directed all countries to implement 100% exit and entry screenings by applying the multilayer mechanism to avoid some loopholes, such as transit passengers.
They resolved to facilitate free movements of goods and services in the region, and also directed all partner states to ensure that trucks or vehicles carrying goods abide by five requirements.
Five things vehicles carrying goods in the region must abide by: