Air passengers must be screened

Are travellers coming from Uganda by air to Rwanda through Kanombe International Airport being screened?

Monday, December 10, 2007

Are travellers coming from Uganda by air to Rwanda through Kanombe International Airport being screened?

 All travellers entering Rwanda from Uganda have been advised to avoid direct contact with blood and other body fluids to minimise threats of contracting the deadly Ebola virus.

A standby ambulance is stationed at Gatuna border post, the main entry point from Uganda to Rwanda, to attend to emergency cases.

A special tent with medical equipment has already been erected at Byumba Hospital, for any eventualities.Medical gloves have also been distributed to all staff working at Gatuna border to protect them from getting direct contact with individuals.

There are no reported Ebola cases in Rwanda so far.The recent Ebola outbreak in the districts of western Uganda; Bundibugyo, Kasese, Kabarole  and Mbarara have prompted the Ministry of Health to introduce precautionary measures at all border posts with Uganda and DRC to prevent the disease from spreading into Rwanda.

A team of medical personnel and nurses from Byumba Hospital and CHK were dispatched last week to screen incoming passengers hailing from Ebola affected districts in Uganda and neighbouring regions of DRC. Other health institutions such as the Treatment and Research Aids Centre (Trac) and the National Bureau of Standards have also contributed medical equipment and personnel to guard against Ebola.

The deadly hemorrhagic fever has claimed about 100 people since its outbreak in Uganda. People should take preventive measures against the spread of Ebola.

 "When the going gets tough, the tough in you gets going”.

Kigali