By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – Somalia is boosting its health systems and surveillance to prevent Ebola from entering the country, the Health Ministry said, citing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Deputy Health Minister Mohamed Hassan Bulaale said the ministry and the African Union are working on preparedness to prevent the virus from entering Somalia.
“The country must prepare for the disease before it arrives,” the deputy minister said, adding that the effort is a source of pride for Somalia and the health sector.
The ministry said ongoing efforts include preparing health teams, testing equipment, laboratories and systems to detect diseases before they spread within communities.
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Bulaale added that the country cannot not wait for the disease to reach its borders, stressing the importance of early prevention, particularly at points of entry.
He said outbreaks in countries with close ties to Somalia, such as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, could pose an urgent risk due to existing travel and operational links.
Health officials said the preparedness effort is part of broader work to build a health system capable of early warning, rapid testing and response to dangerous infectious diseases.