The Ministry of Health and Rwanda Military Hospital have on the 25 October 2018 held an Ebola simulation exercise (SIMEX) to ensure preparedness incase of any emergency outbreak. 

A partnership between Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Ministry of Health, the exercise dubbed “Kumira Ebola Simulation Exercise” SIMEX was held at the Rwanda Military Hospital in Kanombe. 

The Medical Simulation Exercise tested RDF medical service personnel and other stakeholders on the readiness and general conduct during a probable Ebola outbreak in Rwanda. 

“No single Ebola case has been registered in Rwanda but it’s imperative to train our medical practitioners and stakeholders to be able to handle any case that could emerge,” said Dr. Zuber Muvunyi, Director General of Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health.

The SIMEX involved various personnel from the Rwanda Military Hospital, RDF Medical Regiment, Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Centre representatives. The SIMEX started on October 6, 2018 and involved different phases among them training sessions on Ebola disease, MOH Guidelines, SOPs during the disease outbreak and rehearsals.  At the end of this exercise the RDF Medical personnel were equipped to appropriately intervene and effectively contain Ebola incase of an outbreak.

The Ministry of Health has assured the general public that Rwanda is on red alert to tackle Ebola from spreading to the country, after a number of cases were reported in the neighbouring country of the Democratic Republic of Congo where the World Health Organisation confirmed an Ebola outbreak in different parts since last May.

Key interventions include training of medical staff and other rapid response teams from centre level to the community, equipping health facilities to handle Ebola, perform screening at border points as well as awareness on Ebola prevention and basic hygiene practices and community engagement. People are advised to use the available toll free line 114 to ask any questions related to the disease or prevention measures but also to facilitate to report any suspected cases for quick interventions.