Burundi has received $11 million in international support to strengthen Ebola prevention measures as regional health authorities step up efforts to contain outbreaks reported in parts of East and Central Africa.
The funding announcement followed a meeting on Friday in Gitega between Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who currently chairs the African Union, and Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya.
According to presidential spokesperson Nancy Ninette Mutoni, the talks focused on regional preparedness measures and coordination efforts aimed at limiting the spread of Ebola across African countries.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Kaseya said Burundi’s Ebola preparedness and response needs were estimated at between $10 million and $15 million.
“An envelope of 11 million dollars has already been mobilized through Africa CDC partners to support prevention and protection measures for the Burundian population,” he said.
Kaseya said the funds would support surveillance, border screening, rapid response systems and other prevention activities intended to reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.
Burundi shares borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, countries that remain strategically important in regional disease surveillance because of population movement and trade routes.
President Ndayishimiye said African countries needed stronger coordination to respond to the threat posed by Ebola outbreaks on the continent.
According to the presidency, the Burundian leader announced plans to convene a meeting of African heads of state to discuss joint measures aimed at strengthening prevention mechanisms and mobilizing additional resources.
The meeting comes amid heightened regional concern over Ebola outbreaks affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC have warned that cross-border movement in the Great Lakes region increases the risk of wider transmission if surveillance and containment measures are not strengthened.
Reuters reported this week that health authorities in the DRC are monitoring more than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases linked to the current outbreak, while Uganda has also confirmed infections associated with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Burundi’s Ministry of Public Health has in recent weeks intensified screening at border crossings and expanded epidemiological surveillance following alerts issued by regional health agencies.
Africa CDC has previously identified several neighboring countries, including Burundi, as requiring enhanced preparedness because of their proximity to affected areas and the volume of regional travel.
The Ebola virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever and spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. Previous outbreaks in Africa have caused thousands of deaths and placed major pressure on already fragile health systems.
