EAC winds up course on COVID-19 outbreak

THE curtains have been drawn on a training of trainer’s course on COVID-19 preparedness and response at 12 One Stop Border Posts in the East African Community (EAC) partner states.

The training course, which kicked off in October this year, saw at least 330 staff members equipped with relevant skills and knowledge of the deadly virus preparedness and response.

It was convened by the EAC Secretariat and implemented by Amref Flying Doctors to ensure border posts were free from Covid-19 by effective detection and response to infected passengers.

We offered training to facilitate safe cross-border movements and at the same time to protect border staff as the Partner States in the EAC region have started lifting measures imposed to prevent and respond to the pandemic,” explained EAC Deputy Secretary-General Christophe Bazivamo.

According to the deputy SG, the training course provides an opportunity for trainees to identify weaknesses for further action.

It is not limited to the current pandemic, but will also contribute to making the cross-border free from other infectious diseases,” he stressed.

Trainees familiarised themselves with existing regulations and guidelines like the Public Health Act, the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Border Post Public Health Emergency Preparedness.

The trainees were also exposed to modes of transmission, handling of suspicious clients including isolation, quarantine and basic life support as well as health care communication.

Among other things, the training course aims at enhancing surveillance, prevention of and response to the spread of Covid-19 in and outside of the partner states, with targeted groups being border post stakeholders with close contact to travellers and their luggage, as well as to animals and goods.

It also seeks to improve existing frameworks and resources to develop more robust emergency management systems and procedures while at the same time facilitate border post collaboration.

Article first published on dailynews.co.tz