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Rwanda: Ministry of Health has stepped up efforts
Minisante Up Against Avian Flu
The New Times (Kigali)
NEWS
March 1, 2007
Posted to the web March 1, 2007
By Patience Uwitonze
Kigali
The Ministry of Health has stepped up efforts to combat any possible outbreak of the Avian Flu. According to Dr Innocent Nyaruhirira, the State Minister for Health in charge of Infectious Diseases, there is need for coordination between the partners to identify strengths and weaknesses of the current surveillance system and the capacity to diagnose avian influenza (AI) in Rwanda.
"I call upon you to identify areas and mechanisms of collaboration between the national and international organizations for the establishment of a functional avian influenza preparedness and response system for Rwanda," Dr Nyaruhirira said Tuesday, February 27 during a one-day conference organized by the Treatment and Research Aids Center (TRAC).
The avian influenza has not reached Rwanda yet but it is important to stay alert, said the minister.
"The government has made the avian influenza control a priority, but the surveillance against the avian flu should be multi-sector-based, it is important that we receive the support of all concerned institutions in order to strictly control imports of poultry from suspected regions and that the population warns local authorities in case of infection in their homes poultry. We cannot afford any mistake," Nyaruhirira stressed.
The laboratories of the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and Animal Resources have at their disposal the necessary diagnosis capacities to face a potential avian influenza epidemic in Rwanda, he added.
The minister also urged the doctors to provide proper treatment and care to all patients.
The conference that drew 20 participants also aimed at identifying other human and animal diseases that could be monitored alongside the avian influenza surveillance network.
Participants to the workshop were drawn from the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Veterinary Laboratory (RARDA), TRAC, CNLS, and the University of Columbia.
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<hr size="1" width="95%"> Copyright ? 2007 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200703010661.html
The New Times (Kigali)
NEWS
March 1, 2007
Posted to the web March 1, 2007
By Patience Uwitonze
Kigali
The Ministry of Health has stepped up efforts to combat any possible outbreak of the Avian Flu. According to Dr Innocent Nyaruhirira, the State Minister for Health in charge of Infectious Diseases, there is need for coordination between the partners to identify strengths and weaknesses of the current surveillance system and the capacity to diagnose avian influenza (AI) in Rwanda.
"I call upon you to identify areas and mechanisms of collaboration between the national and international organizations for the establishment of a functional avian influenza preparedness and response system for Rwanda," Dr Nyaruhirira said Tuesday, February 27 during a one-day conference organized by the Treatment and Research Aids Center (TRAC).
The avian influenza has not reached Rwanda yet but it is important to stay alert, said the minister.
"The government has made the avian influenza control a priority, but the surveillance against the avian flu should be multi-sector-based, it is important that we receive the support of all concerned institutions in order to strictly control imports of poultry from suspected regions and that the population warns local authorities in case of infection in their homes poultry. We cannot afford any mistake," Nyaruhirira stressed.
The laboratories of the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and Animal Resources have at their disposal the necessary diagnosis capacities to face a potential avian influenza epidemic in Rwanda, he added.
The minister also urged the doctors to provide proper treatment and care to all patients.
The conference that drew 20 participants also aimed at identifying other human and animal diseases that could be monitored alongside the avian influenza surveillance network.
Participants to the workshop were drawn from the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Veterinary Laboratory (RARDA), TRAC, CNLS, and the University of Columbia.
<!-- end story layout piece here --><!-- ad -->
<hr size="1" width="95%"> Copyright ? 2007 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200703010661.html