07 Sep 2014

Southern African Development Community (SADC) states have been implored to have uniform standards to deal with Ebola cases.

The chief public health officer in the Ministry of Health, Mr Setshwano Mokgweetsinyana said it was resolved that countries must be on high alert and have protective equipment and clothing in place.

The Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing attended the meeting which was held in Zimbabwe to address the threat of the Ebola virus in the region.

 Mr Mokgweetsinyana said it was also resolved that all health workers must be trained and that all countries must have isolation or quarantine centres. 

Mr Mokgweetsinyana, however, noted that the 21 days incubation period made it difficult to eliminate the threat of the virus because someone could stay in a country for 20 days before displaying any symptoms of the virus. 

“The use of thermometers can reveal someone’s temperature as normal just because they have not displayed the symptoms, so we can still have a sick person amongst us and still be unable to detect that,” he explained. 

Mr Mokgweetsinaya said all visitors and tourists from affected countries were interviewed, adding that they advise them to go for medical examinations.   

He said the border between Botswana and countries close to the DRC would remain closed, adding that SADC countries were at liberty to take preventive decisions on their own. 

“It is dependent upon each country to do what they feel is best for them after weighing their options,” he said, adding that the World Health Organisation has advised that the movement of people should not be disturbed or affected. Ends