KIGALI – Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) in conjunction with the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO), is currently hosting a meeting in Kigali that is discussing strategies for curbing disease transmission in air travel.

The meeting will discuss how African governments can lay mechanisms of training more medical personnel in aviation medicine to handle airborne transmissions.

Addressing participants, Tony Evans who represented ICAO, said little had been done in the development of aviation medicine in Africa which puts travelers at risk of transmitting diseases across continents.

"Strong measures should be put in place to ensure the medical well being of the pilots and the air crews because the safety of air passengers depends on them.”

Extensive screening and thermo scanning should be applied at airports as some measures that prevent any risks that might arise, according to Evans.

Dr. Richard Masozera, the Director General RCAA observed that there are few qualified personnel in aviation medicine in the region and called for countries’ efforts to revive the trend of training more.

The meeting drew participants, from Kenya, West Africa, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Local participants from King Faisal Hospital, CHUK and Kanombe Military Hospital also participated.

Also discussed in the workshop is the Swine flu pandemic which has recorded 14 cases in the country.

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