Johannesburg: President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to supporting continental efforts to strengthen preparedness and response to Ebola, underscoring the importance of coordinated African action in addressing public health threats. Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, during the occasion of President William Ruto of Kenya's State Visit to South Africa, President Ramaphosa said Ebola remains a concern for the African continent and requires strengthened cooperation, preparedness, and resilient health systems across affected and at-risk regions.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa's ongoing support for continental health institutions, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), as part of a broader effort to enhance readiness and response capacity. He highlighted South Africa's earlier contribution of $5 million to the AUCDC to support the strengthening of health systems and outbreak preparedness across the continent. This contribution is aimed at bolstering health systems in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and the AUCDC, reflecting South Africa's commitment to a proactive and coordinated continental approach to health security.
President Ramaphosa stressed the importance of protecting public health, noting that efforts in one part of the continent contribute to broader regional and global safety. He called for continued support from international partners and institutions to reinforce the capacity of the Africa CDC and national health systems across Africa.
President William Ruto of Kenya echoed these sentiments, highlighting precautionary measures in his country as part of broader preparedness efforts linked to developments in the region, particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He emphasized that Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases and outlined extensive measures his government has taken to prepare for any eventuality, including enhanced screening at entry points, training health personnel, and establishing isolation facilities across the country.
According to Ruto, Kenya is testing between 2,000 and 3,000 people daily, has mobilized testing teams and resources, trained thousands of staff members, and established 23 isolation facilities nationwide. Addressing criticism surrounding a quarantine facility established in partnership with the United States at a Kenyan military air base, Ruto stated that the arrangement forms part of broader cooperation to strengthen preparedness. He underscored Kenya's responsibility to provide healthcare to all people within its borders.