High-level delegation assesses Ebola preparedness in Yei River state
Episode 958, Jul 16, 2019, 12:31 PM
A high-level delegation concluded a site visit to Yei River State with a message to local and national authorities to put community engagement at the center of Ebola prevention and response efforts.
The team from the National Ministry of Health, United Nations agencies, Ambassadors from donor countries and representatives of international NGOs met with local officials and visited the Yei health facility and isolation site to assess the preparedness and response actions on the ground following reported cases in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Alain Noudehou stressed the need for heightened surveillance and a coordinated approach to preventing the disease from infiltrating the borders.
Ambassadors from the African Union, donor countries (UK, US, EU, Japan) heads of UN agencies; WHO, OCHA, UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM, WFP; and UNMISS made the visit on Monday.
The Under-Secretary in the National Ministry of Health, Makur Matur Koriom assured the delegation that community awareness is ongoing, and that the ministry has vaccinated nearly three thousand frontline health workers in high-risk areas.
Koriom said screening is ongoing at 15 entry points and ruled out the possibility of closing borders with Uganda and the DR Congo.
Listen to Mr. Koriom’s statement.