By Tom Mugisha, tom.mugisha@alleastafrica.com
KAMPALA – Uganda’s health ministry is in the process of procuring high tech scanners to test body temperature of all travelers entering Uganda.
Dr Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary of Somalia’s ministry of health, said the expected are to help detect highly infectious diseases like Ebola and Marburg that was synonymous high body temperatures.
When a traveler is found with abnormal body temperature, further medical tests will be carried out.
“We have invited bidders to supply us three thermal scanners that detect one’s temperature. They are to be installed at Entebbe Airport and for the first time all passengers entering will be subject to go through. This will enable to detect passengers with high fever for further medical examination,” she said, I’m not sure of the budget because we have just started the procurement process, Dr Atwine said on Tuesday.
Uganda has on several occasions been hit by Ebola and Marburg killing a number of people.
While addressing an international health conference last week President Yoweri Museveni blamed people affected with Ebola and Marburg for invading habitants of animals that carry the virus of the diseases.
Dr Atwine said even other border points will be covered after the airport.
“We are beginning with Entebbe and roll out to cover all entry point. We have contained the situation in Uganda however the challenge is our porous borders especially DR Congo (hot spot of Edola out breaks).”
Copyright ©2017 Alleastafrica.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Alleastafrica.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Alleastafrica.com
