Binangwaho calls for regional effort in managing pandemics

RUBUBAVU - The Minister of Health, Dr Agnes Binangwaho, has called on the East African Community states to work out a regional contingency plan for disaster and pandemic management. The Minister made the call, on Friday, in Rubavu district where she was closing a five-day Pandemic disaster response table top exercise. “We all know that pandemics and disasters respect no boundaries and disrupt people’s day to day lives hence the East African Community hopes to introduce a regional contingency plan where the army, police, health sector officials can work together for the security and health of the population,” Binangwaho said. The exercise that drew participants from the region was organized by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs with the support of United States Africa Command with various officials from government and non-government organizations. The minister also emphasized prioritizing of multi-sectoral planning for pandemics and disaster by all key ministries and stakeholders. “The training is essential to pandemic preparedness and greatly enhances the multi sectoral response capabilities,” added Binangwaho. Dr David McAllister from Centre for Disease Control Prevention said the training provided an opportunity for senior and mid level military personnel to acquire knowledge in disaster management, assess government in understanding the international role in disaster management and responding to complex disaster situations. Ends