EDITORIAL: Government needs to improve communication for better results

Yesterday the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Rwanda Defence Forces, Police and the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority held a simulation exercise on how they can handle an Ebola case. The simulation was very real-like, complete with medical protective gear and decontaminating health workers and vehicles. But even though the exercise was a great success, it hit a snag: it caused panic. Phones started ringing wondering whether we knew of some Ebola cases at the airport and the Police and the Army medical personnel had deployed. Human beings are very sensitive to things that might cause death or severe injury. They become even more wary when the danger involves a contagious disease with no cure like Ebola. While the government’s communication machinery is becoming awake, it still has a long way to go. Enacting a life-like scenario like Saturdays – however well planned – should have invested more in communicating to the public of the impending exercise, days earlier. The organizers should not just have informed media houses to witness the exercise, they should have taken it to the people by inviting local leaders to take part. They would then pass on what they had witnessed to their communities. That would have been effective communication. But whatever the shortcomings, or the miscommunication, it is encouraging to see that the country is well prepared to deal with any eventual outbreak. The exercise, as well as more community outreach programmes, should be showcased to the people to assure them that they are in good hands.

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EDITORIAL: Government needs to improve communication for better results