South Sudan Forms Ebola taskforce As Death Toll Rises In Neighboring Country
His Excellency the president of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday formed a high-level national task force to pawn the imminent threat of the Ebola Virus which has killed 29 people and infected over sixty others in her next-door neighbor Uganda according to WHO.
In an order broadcast on the state-owned SSBC radio, Mr. Kiir appointed the Ministers of Cabinet Affairs, Health, Interior, Finance and Planning, Transport; Wildlife conversation and Tourism, and General Education as principal members of the task force.
Other members appointed to the task force are the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of National Security, and the Director-General of Civil Aviation Authority according to the presidential dossier.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lumuro has been awarded the mantle to chair the task force assisted by his deputy and health minister, Yolanda Awel Deng while the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Victoria Anib has been assigned as the force’s pen and paper mistress. (Secretary).
The formulation of this national taskforce by the presidency is to up readiness to tackle the pandemic in case it crosses border from the neighboring Uganda where it is currently sending wave of fear among its citizenry especially in the western district of Mubende where the first case of the disease was reported.
This taskforce will be responsible for conducting regular test of any person suspected to have contracted the virus and determine mitigation formulas which should be made known in to detail by the leadership of the taskforce to the government in order to inform intervention strategies.
The task-force will also carry out situation assessment and establish isolation centers fully furnished with necessary equipment and medical personnel as well as medicines along the border.
“Any suspect or anyone found to have Ebola should immediately be placed in isolation and intensely monitored so that the virus is contained and restrained from spreading uncontrollably in the country,” instructs part of the order.
President Kiir also directed the Minister of Finance and planning release the approved fund meant to facilitate the work of the task force..
