Health

Burundi to set up two scanners at borders with DRC

Thaddée Ndikumana, Minister of Public Health says his ministry has ordered two scanners to facilitate the control of the free movement of people using Gatumba border and Bujumbura International Airport. “There are many people who pass through Gatumba border and need to be thoroughly controlled,” he says.

Nurses using a thermoflash to measure temperature

He also says his ministry plans to create an isolation transit center at Gatumba border and an integrated care center at Mudubugu area in Bujumbura Province. “We are properly equipped; doctors and nurses are also well trained to face the threat”, he says.

Minister Thaddée Ndikumana has also announced that Burundi has now a GeneXpert device to diagnose suspected cases of Ebola virus disease. “Suspected samples were previously sent to Uganda for analyses. But now, the National Health and Research Institute is able to deal with such screening,” he says.

In August 2018, Ebola Virus Disease outbreak was reported at less than 400 km from Burundi and about 70 cases were registered in North Kivu and Ituri in the DRC.

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