Rwanda - Health Sector Needs and Recommendations for the Transition Phase (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, 1998, 39 p.): 7. Recommendations for humanitarian action and preparedness: 7.6. Preparedness for disease outbreaks

Rwanda - Health Sector Needs and Recommendations for the Transition Phase (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, 1998, 39 p.)

7. Recommendations for humanitarian action and preparedness

		(introduction...)
		7.1. Action in the Red Zone
		7.2. Humanitarian monitoring system
		7.3. Emergency food distribution
		7.4. Humanitarian targeting of vulnerable groups
		7.5. Continuity of access to drugs
		7.6. Preparedness for disease outbreaks
		7.7. Improved management of human resources
		7.8. Approaches to transition

7.6. Preparedness for disease outbreaks

Epidemic preparedness (mainly in the Red Zone) focusing on emergency control and prevention mechanisms/or communicable diseases and sentinel surveillance systems is recommended. As mentioned earlier, the breakdowns in surveillance systems and vaccination programmes is likely to have significantly increased the size of population susceptible to infectious disease. Diarrhoeal disease (including cholera) and malaria, both presenting resistant strains, are a constant threat for the country and the region. Preparedness for rarer diseases, such as typhus and other fevers should also be foreseen. The current situation is potentially explosive, for the country as well as for the region, should an important infectious agent manifest itself. The issue should also be examined from a regional perspective in collaboration with specialised agencies and the WHO³¹.

³¹A joint mission with OFDA could be planned within the Trans Atlantic Initiative.