Authorities in South Sudan are stepping up measures to prevent the spread of Ebola from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, as health teams intensify screening and public awareness in the border town of Ezo.
The World Health Organization, with support from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, is working with local health authorities to screen travellers and strengthen preparedness against a possible outbreak.
At the main border crossing, health workers are screening people arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as those leaving South Sudan.
“We are visiting to ensure that whoever is crossing from DRC is screened and whoever is leaving is also screened,” said Brian Assimwe, a WHO epidemiologist.
Health agencies describe the border area as high-risk because of frequent cross-border movement, limited disease surveillance and gaps in public health capacity.
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For residents of Ezo and surrounding communities, crossing the border is part of daily life and an important source of income.
Health workers are therefore combining screening with community sensitisation to help residents understand the risks of Ebola and ways to prevent infection.
“We are going to educate this community, and the community will have full information on how they can prevent themselves from this dangerous disease,” said health worker Cosmas Bonifes.
The United Nations and humanitarian partners are also providing medical supplies while using radio and social media to raise awareness about Ebola prevention.
Health personnel are being trained to identify suspected cases, protect themselves from infection and safely isolate patients when necessary.
Security is also being given priority as part of the preparedness efforts.
UNMISS peacekeepers and military observers have assessed Ebola screening centres and surrounding areas to identify security concerns and support the safe movement of health workers and humanitarian teams.
“We are assisting our humanitarian partners in conducting the assessment of the screening centres for Ebola,” said UNMISS Military Observer Vanshay Kapur.
“This is important so we understand what the present situation is in terms of the security of this place,” he added.
The preparedness measures come as the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo moves closer to the South Sudan border.
Authorities face the challenge of protecting communities from the deadly disease while ensuring that essential cross-border trade and movement continue.
Health officials say early detection, community awareness and effective border screening will be critical in preventing the virus from spreading into South Sudan.
An outbreak in South Sudan could have wider regional implications because the country lies along important migration and trade routes linking several neighbouring countries.
African News
