WINDHOEK – The Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Fenata) chairperson, Werner Beddies, has requested all Namibians to act responsibly and be sensitive about spreading any rumours or false information on Ebola through social media networks.
“This is so important that we do so to avoid harming our country. Namibia is Ebola-free but all the false alarms, which are being spread via Facebook and SMS, harm our country,” stated the chairperson of Fenata.
He said the tourism industry is very sensitive to such rumours and if international clientele do not know what to believe anymore they will cancel their visits to Namibia and this will in turn deprive the country of tourism revenue . He said the Ministry of Health and Social Services has stated unequivocally that there are no cases of Ebola in Namibia and authorities have also put in place contingency preventive measures at airports and borders.
“Namibia, as a destination, remains open to all who wish to come and visit,” he said, adding that “the distance from Namibia to Guinea is further than that of New York to Mexico or the distance between Namibia and Guinea is double that between Frankfurt and Moscow.”
Confirmed cases of Ebola are 1 201 while the number of people suspected to be infected stands at 1 848 across West Africa, the epicentre of the latest outbreak. Roughly two in three people infected with Ebola have died because it is highly fatal.
According to Beddies, the Namibian government has put in place surveillance at points of entry such as Hosea Kutako International Airport, Walvis Bay port and Oshikango border post while there is also a continuous sensitisation of health workers, as part of measures to increase the country’s vigilance and preparedness for the disease.
Furthermore, the ministry has reserved a ward at the Windhoek Central Hospital in case Ebola breaks out in Namibia.
Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood, for example, through broken skin, other bodily fluids or secretions, such as stool, saliva, urine and semen of infected persons.
Infection could also occur if broken skin comes in contact with environments that have become contaminated with an Ebola patient’s infectious fluids, such as soiled clothing, bed linen or used needles.
Last week, SADC ministers of health gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa, and recommended that member states mobilise relevant government sectors and community, religious and political leaders to work together to prevent Ebola in the region.
This collaboration could increase awareness and understanding of the Ebola outbreak by communities to ensure optimum preparedness and response, they stated.
Other recommendations were to identify and commit additional domestic financial resources to support the outbreak preparedness, organise cross-border consultations to facilitate exchange of information and agree on joint collaborative actions, among others.
Medical professionals and experts have made it clear that the epidemic will almost certainly be limited to West Africa.
SADC is at a very low risk of experiencing an Ebola outbreak. The combination of modern health systems and the limited communicability of the virus make it unlikely to spread in developed countries.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa