Kigali, 13 September 2019 - In the exercise of its oversight mandate, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) held a meeting with officials from the Ministries responsible for Health and East African Community Affairs as well as members of Parliament and other stakeholders dealing with health issues. EALA and health experts from Rwanda discussed sustainable interventions to combat transmission of dengue and Ebola virus, in a meeting held in Kigali from 13 – 15 September 2019.

The purpose of the meeting was to assess the level of preparedness of EAC Partner States in managing/containing the Ebola and dengue fever epidemics, and to explore possible sustainable interventions to combat these epidemics. 

Dr José Nyamusore, Head of Epidemiology and surveillance Division at Rwanda Biomedical Centre told members of the press that dengue fever has not been detected in Rwanda, he added that there are discussions going on regarding possible ways of stopping it from crossing borders, just like they contained Ebola.

These meetings were held in the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republics of Rwanda and Uganda.

The lawmakers want the six-member East African Community (EAC) to develop a common policy on the preparedness and response to epidemics such as Ebola and dengue fever.

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