CDC TO RESPOND TO EBOLA OUTBREAK IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to deploy epidemiologists, laboratory experts, and anthropologist to respond to the Ebola outbreak in Democratc Republic of Congo

Urges long-term action to build resilient health systems locally and national public health systems to pick up events rapidly

Kinshasa/ Bandaka/Bikoro, 20 May 2018 - The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is deploying 25 epidemiologists, laboratory experts, and anthropologists to support the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC)  efforts to control the recent Ebola virus outbreat in Mbandaka and Bikoro. Following the announcement on 8 May 2018 of the Ebola outbreak by the government of DRC, the Africa CDC deployed an assessment mission within 48 hours and activated its Emergency Operational Centre to link, scan and monitor the situation.

“The global community needs to respond to this outbreak as a crisis and not as an emergency, by quickly deploying public health assets to the affected areas expiditiously”. I want to applaud the Minister of Health of the DRC for his exemplary leadership in managing this current outbreak so far. “All our efforts should be geared towards supporting his leadrship” said Dr. John Nkengasong, the Director of the Africa CDC, upon his return this week, with a high level delegation, to the affected areas in Mbandaka and Bikoro.

The DRC government is working with partners to improve coordination mechanisms, enhance surveillance, laboratory confirmation, contact identification and follow-up, case management, infection prevention and control, safe and dignified burials, social mobilisation and community engagement, logistics, risk communication, vaccination, partner engagement, research and resource mobilisation.

During the Africa CDC team’s visits they assisted the Ministry of Health, together with other partners,  to develop three strategies: a) surveillance and contact tracing, b) Defining the various health areas affected, and c) laboratory testing and network. The Africa CDC will provide up to USD 2 million to support Africa CDC interventions. Due to the remote nature of the Equateur Province, it is expected that more efforts will need to be put in supply chain issues to ensure that essential items needed are delivered swiftly. Last week the African Union Peace and Security Council was briefed on the situation and will continue to receive reports.  Under Article 6(f) relating to its mandate with regard to humanitarian action and disaster management the Council can authorise deployment of military and civilian missions and assets to tackle emergency situations as it did in August 2014 in the Ebola outbreak in the West Africa sub-region. This outbreak is the 9^th outbreak of the Ebola virus disease over the last 4 decades in the country. The affected health area of Bikoro covers 1 075 km and has a population of 163 065 inhabitants. This huge population is supported by only 3 hospitals and 19 health centres, most of which have limited functionality. 

The risk of speard of the virus is high at national and regional levels due in part to the proximity of the epidemic focus to the Congo River which links with the capitals of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. As such, Africa CDC is coordinating with these countries to ensure that their surveillance systems are activated and information is shared in real time.

About the Africa CDC

The Africa CDC supports all African countries to improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention of infectious diseases. This includes addressing outbreaks, man-made and natural disasters, and public health events of regional and international concern. It further seeks to build the capacity to reduce disease burden on the continent.

For further information contact

Mr. Tawanda Chisango I AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) Program Advocacy & Partnership Expert | Social Affairs | African Union Commission I E-mail: chisangot@africa-union.org  | Web www.au.int Iwww.aidswatchafrica.net 

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Urges long-term action to build resilient health systems locally and national public health systems to pick up events rapidly

Kinshasa/ Bandaka/Bikoro, 20 May 2018 - The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is deploying 25 epidemiologists, laboratory experts, and anthropologists to support the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC)  efforts to control the recent Ebola virus outbreak in Mbandaka and Bikoro. Following the announcement on 8 May 2018 of the Ebola outbreak by the government of DRC, the Africa CDC deployed an assessment mission within 48 hours and activated its Emergency Operational Centre to link, scan and monitor the situation.

“The global community needs to respond to this outbreak as a crisis and not as an emergency, by quickly deploying public health assets to the affected areas expeditiously”. I want to applaud the Minister of Health of the DRC for his exemplary leadership in managing this current outbreak so far. “All our efforts should be geared towards supporting his leadership” said Dr. John Nkengasong, the Director of the Africa CDC, upon his return this week, with a high level delegation, to the affected areas in Mbandaka and Bikoro.

The DRC government is working with partners to improve coordination mechanisms, enhance surveillance, laboratory confirmation, contact identification and follow-up, case management, infection prevention and control, safe and dignified burials, social mobilisation and community engagement, logistics, risk communication, vaccination, partner engagement, research and resource mobilisation.

During the Africa CDC team’s visits they assisted the Ministry of Health, together with other partners,  to develop three strategies: a) surveillance and contact tracing, b) Defining the various health areas affected, and c) laboratory testing and network. The Africa CDC will provide up to USD 2 million to support Africa CDC interventions. Due to the remote nature of the Equateur Province, it is expected that more efforts will need to be put in supply chain issues to ensure that essential items needed are delivered swiftly. Last week the African Union Peace and Security Council was briefed on the situation and will continue to receive reports.  Under Article 6(f) relating to its mandate with regard to humanitarian action and disaster management the Council can authorise deployment of military and civilian missions and assets to tackle emergency situations as it did in August 2014 in the Ebola outbreak in the West Africa sub-region. This outbreak is the 9^th outbreak of the Ebola virus disease over the last 4 decades in the country. The affected health area of Bikoro covers 1 075 km and has a population of 163 065 inhabitants. This huge population is supported by only 3 hospitals and 19 health centres, most of which have limited functionality. 

The risk of spread of the virus is high at national and regional levels due in part to the proximity of the epidemic focus to the Congo River which links with the capitals of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. As such, Africa CDC is coordinating with these countries to ensure that their surveillance systems are activated and information is shared in real time.

About the Africa CDC

The Africa CDC supports all African countries to improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention of infectious diseases. This includes addressing outbreaks, man-made and natural disasters, and public health events of regional and international concern. It further seeks to build the capacity to reduce disease burden on the continent.

For further information contact

Mr. Tawanda Chisango I AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) Program Advocacy & Partnership Expert | Social Affairs | African Union Commission I E-mail: chisangot@africa-union.org  | Web www.au.int Iwww.aidswatchafrica.net 

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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CLIMATE CHANGE: EXPERTS GIVE URGENT ACTION A PANACEA FOR AFRICAN'S RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION

By Temitope Musowo 

It was a beehive of activities at the International Conference Centre of the Unvèrsity of Ibadan Nigeria during the week when experts world over converged to reiterate the need by all and sundry  to take urgent action on climate change and it's obvious effects.

At a Two - Day Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation in Africa organised by the University of Ibadan Center for Sustainable Development (UI-CESDEV) in colaboration with International Climate Change Information Programme (ICCIP),Hamburg University of Applied Science (Germany ) and Manchester Metropolitan University  (UK),with the theme "Enhancing Africa's Capacity to Cope With Climate Change ",experts took turn to speak on the reality of climate change.

Keynote speech was delivered by Prof Walter Leal of the Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom,and HAW Hamburg,Germany as other speakers who includes Dr Desalegn Ayal of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia , Dr Adeola Aderomola,University of Pretoria, South Africa ,Dr Ousmane Badiane,International Food  Policy Research Institute (IFPRI -ReSAKSS) also lent their voices to the reality of climate change and the need for Africa to be positioned for resilience and adaptation. 

Others special guests were Prof Olabode Popoola,Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo,Nigeria, Oyo State Commisioner for Environment and Water Resources,Ambassador Oluseyi Onafowokan,Former Nigeria High Commission to Ghana.

The Monday programme  ended with a welcome cocktail  where all the delegates were hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka as an avenue for networking and socialisation while launching the initiative on Interconnections for Making Africa Great, Empowered and Sustainable (IMAGES)l.

After the series of activities that marked the first day,Tuesday programme started with a three planting exercise,in the company of Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan,Director,Centre for Sustainable Development,all claded in branded T-shirt,other stakeholders with the support of BOVAS and Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources planted 120 trees round the city of Ibadan to offset carbon. 

Co-Chairman, Organising Committee for the event, Dr Olawale E. Olayide, in a press statement made available to Devcom Nigeria  said the symposium was unique and packed with a lot of scientific, sponsored and social sessions.

In accordance to his statement, the scientific session featured technical presentations from renowned scholars within and outside the continent of Africa with sub-themes such as Implementing Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Areas and Communities, Cities, Countries and via Outreach Programmes; Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience and Hazards (including droughts/floods); Climate Change and Agriculture Session: Information, Communication, Education and Training on Climate Change; and  Climate Change and Health.

According to Dr. Olayide, the sponsored sessions were  Climate-Smart Agriculture & Data Challenge by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Socio-ecological Transformation and Climate Change in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES); Assessing Resilience to Climate Change in Africa by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), and Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa by Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

Dr. Olayide who was most grateful to welcome the delegates noted that  13 countries ((Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, South Africa, Cameroun, Benin, Ghana, Senegal and the United Kingdom) were represented at the symposium.