Kamenge Military Hospital preparing to deal with Ebola

On June 20, Kamenge Military Hospital alongside the US Embassy in Burundi have organized training exercises on intervention in Ebola cases.

The staff in a training session on Ebola at Kamenge Military Hospital

“As you know there is Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since we are neighbors and there are always movements of people between Burundi and DRC, we must be prepared to handle possible cases of Ebola,” says Jérome Nkurunziza, a member of the technical team created to deal with Ebola cases at Kamenge Military Hospital. All hospitals, especially those in the priority zone hold regular training sessions to handle Ebola cases when they are reported, he adds.

He says the training activities have been organized to teach their staff on how to help and treat Ebola patients.

“We have organized simulation exercises to teach our staff who will intervene at the first time when there is a suspect case of Ebola,” says Mr. Nkurunziza. They were trained on how to wear and put off individual protective clothes, he adds.

Mr. Nkurunziza says checking centers have been established at the frontiers with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The police and the army have been mobilized to control illegal movements. If there is any other identified path, the medical staff is immediately sent at the place,” he adds.

Mr. Nkurunziza says there is minimal material and the hospital continues to receive other materials that they do not have.

At a press conference held On June 14, Thaddée Ndikumana, Minister of Health, said there are 22 sites equipped with medical staff on frontiers with DRC and Rwanda. “They check all passengers to detect if they don’t have Ebola symptoms.”

Mr. Ndikumana said there will be mobile laboratories wherever an Ebola case is detected. “The Health Ministry staff will be vaccinated against Ebola before helping patients infected with the virus.”

Ebola is a virus that causes problems with how blood clots. It is a hemorrhagic fever virus which leads to internal bleeding, as blood leaks from small blood vessels in one’s body. The virus also causes inflammation and tissue damage.

Symptoms of Ebola are among others high fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, stomach pain, bloody diarrhea and lack of appetite.