Zimbabwe makes Ebola prevention strategies

Ebola Outbreak

As concern rises about Ebola spreading to other countries in Africa, Zimbabwe said headway is being made in prevention strategies, but more work is needed. CCTV America’s Farai Mwakituya reports.

For two months, Zimbabwe has been on high alert over Ebola despite not being in close proximity to West Africa where the outbreak began, but the movement of people and goods mainly from the D.R.C. (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Nigeria rises concerns.

The first port of call for the protocol of handling the threat of Ebola is at the port of entry. All travelers coming to Zimbabwe are screened at entry points for possible infection. All travelers who have been to Ebola affected areas undergo mandatory 21-day monitoring and surveillance. So far, more than 100 people have undergone it and 67 of them successfully completed the period without any incidence of infection.

Any suspected cases were brought to an isolation unit at Wilkins hospital in Harare. It has 7 beds at the moment with capacity to increase if needed. All staff were trained to handle Ebola and do simulations daily. On Saturday, over 100 medical doctors were taken on a tour of this facility and given an update on the state of the country’s preparedness for Ebola.