A German national who was admitted with Ebola-like symptoms later tested negative for the deadly hemorrhagic fever last week. The patient, who had arrived in from Liberia, the West African country where the plague has hit hardest, had earlier caused worries although health minister Agnès Binagwaho confirmed that health workers have been trained across the country to be vigilant for timely detection, notification and appropriate management of any suspected cases to safeguard Rwandans. However, the ministry advises the public to watch out for anyone who presents signs and symptoms of Ebola to immediately seek medical attention at the nearest health facility or call hotline 114. This comes at a time when the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics indicate that the death toll in West Africa reached 1,145 people and infection standing at 1,848 across the nations. In response, WHO recommended the use of an experimental drug ZMapp. The WHO also warned that Kenya is at a high risk in East Africa. In other news, at least 64 patients benefited from free surgery during a medical exercise at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (Chuk) conducted by the Rotary Medical Mission. The 10-day exercise targeted 300 patients with different ailments, including urology, ophthalmology, orthopedic, plastic, dental, maxillofacial, gynecology and other general surgeries. The 16-member team of medics from India is in the country under the auspices of the Rotary Club Rwanda. But diabetic patients also received training by the national association for people affected by diabetes (ARD). Over 100 type 1 diabetic youth from across the country attended the training on improved diabetic care. Under the theme, “It won’t stop my dream,” Crispin Gishoma, the director ARD, told type 1 diabetic patients not to lose hope of living for long once diagnosed with the disease which he says can be reversed once the patient received proper care.
