Red Cross Rwanda has requested its volunteers arround Kigali city to be exemplary in efforts to prevent the Marburg epidemic, which continues to intensify in the country.
They were in general requested this on this Wednesday, October 2, 2024, when the Red Cross of Rwanda, in collaboration with the National Health Center (RBC), launched a training for volunteers in the city of Kigali, with the aim of preventing the Marburg epidemic.
The Ministry of Health explained to these volunteers what they need to know about this epidemic.
They explained that Marburg is spread by contact with the blood and other tissues of the infected person, noting that it is not spread through the air.
Symptoms include severe headache, high fever, vomiting, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
During this training, the volunteers were taught how to bury a person who died of this epidemic.
Kanyamugenga Phénias, from Gikondo Sector, in Kicukiro District, said that this training is important and will help them encourage the people how they should avoid this special epidemic.
He said, “The way we will take care as they explained to us, we will first protect ourselves before going to protect others so that we can be sure that we do not have anything that we will not take from others.”
His colleague, Nyiramurava Ancille, from Kigarama Sector in Kicukiro District, said, “We have heard clearly that first of all we will avoid giving the people information about rumors because rumors and measures to protect themselves from the epidemic.”
Emmanuel Mazimpaka, Director of Communications,Fundraising and Humanitarian Diplomacy Department, said that since its volunteers have received training, they will collaborate with government agencies to convey the message to the people.
He said, “What we ask of our trained volunteers is that they should be role models and behave well themselves, taking care of these measures and being the first to implement them if it is washing to avoid hugging because someone can hug someone who is sick.”
He continued saying, “Then they will implement these measures and encourage the people to be clean and avoid contact with other different measures. Volunteers should set an example for themselves and their families.”
He added that they should work with the local authorities in providing information to the people through community meetings, meetings and other places.
Dr. Axel Karamage, RBC’s Disease Control and Prevention Officer in the Food Contamination Department, said that this epidemic has a different transmission mechanism than others.
He said, “A person can be infected for between two and 21 days without showing symptoms, but there are those who come quickly, which start similar to other diseases, especially Malaria. Sudden high fever, severe headache, pain in the joints, bones and even reaching the joints with a rope where a person is being cut, it is broken.”
He reminded the trainees that they should take into account safety and hygiene before having someone else give them first aid.
The numbers provided by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, showed that in Rwanda there have been 36 patients infected with Marburg disease, while it has killed 11 people, and 25 are being treated.
In addition to providing training on Marburg epidemy, the Red Cross provided cleaning supplies, blankets, blankets, worth 20,000,000 Frw to 817 needy families in Gasabo and Nyarugenge Districts.
By Carine Kayitesi/Umwezi.rw
