It is time for active surveillance

Correspondent | Friday August 22, 2014 11:28

 

The BCP recognises and commends the efforts that our government has done in protecting the nation by screening and limiting international travellers. Isolation facilities are also most welcome and we urge the government to be vigilant and none selective of the suspected individuals. The rules should apply to all travellers equally. No one should be favoured with home observations. There should be strict isolation centre observations.

On Sunday 17th there was news, from the media, that an isolation centre in Liberia was violently raided. Contaminated beddings and other commodities were apparently removed back into the communities. This will obviously compromise and set back the preventive measures already put in place in the affected West African region.

Violence increases the risk of refugees fleeing the source countries and also arriving through ungazzeted ports and routes

The Government should now urgently initiate an ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM over and above the screening system.

 That means

1. All those who have come from the affected regions should be checked for not only symptoms but, their travelling contacts in the epidemic countries should be traced and documented.

2. Officers at ports of entry should inspect travel documents strictly to establish countries visited in the previous three months

3. Leaflets should be left in hotels and tourism areas to emphasise the need to establish travel history in the previous three months before entering Botswana

4. The government should urgently assemble a group of family welfare educators or those of similar health training for a quick intense course on Ebola and it’s surveillance and prevention.to cover all the health regions

5. A fast track reporting system should be put in place and longitudinal bureaucratic reporting lines curtailed.

6. The nation should now be intensely educated on the disease

The BCP stands by the efforts to save our nation. However in such situations of a sudden threat to life it is often that the lines between human rights, personal freedoms and safety of individuals get very blurred.

We plead with the government to keep a clear eye as it navigates the rough waters. These may be challenging times.

 

Hon Dr. Habaudi Hobona

BCP Shadow Health Minister