Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has said that Africa must invest in resilient health systems and reduce dependence on external support if the continent is to effectively address recurring public health emergencies such as Ebola disease. Nsengiyumva, who represented President Paul Kagame at a virtual meeting on the Ebola outbreak on June 16, stressed the importance of preparedness, regional cooperation, and long-term investment in health security. ALSO READ: Robust Ebola prevention measures in place – PM Nsengiyumva The High-Level Meeting of African Heads of State, Governments and Partners on the Ebola Outbreak, was also attended by representatives of regional institutions and development partners to strengthen collective efforts aimed at preventing and responding to the disease. Discussions focused on mobilising and aligning financial, technical, and operational support for a joint preparedness and response plan. Participants also sought to agree on political, operational, and cross-border measures to enhance outbreak preparedness and response in affected and at-risk countries. The current Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in DR Congo and Uganda. As we work to bring this outbreak to an end, we must recognise that Ebola is not the first public health emergency our continent has faced, and it will not be the last, the Prime Minister said. In recent years, Africa has confronted Ebola, COVID-19, mpox, and other health crises in rapid succession. The question before us is whether we will remain trapped in cycles of emergency response or build the systems and capabilities that make us truly resilient. Under the leadership of the African Union, he said, the continent must take greater ownership of its health security and reduce dependence on external responses. This requires sustained investment in surveillance systems, laboratory networks, health infrastructure, research institutions, and, above all, our people, Nsengiyumva said. ALSO READ: Ebola deaths surpass 130: How the virus spreads While acknowledging the support of international partners, Nsengiyumva said long-term resilience of Africa's health systems must ultimately be built by Africans, for Africans. He noted that the Ebola outbreak demonstrated the need for coordinated action, stressing that health emergencies transcend national borders. We convene at a moment that demands both urgency and unity of purpose, he said. The Prime Minister expressed Rwanda's solidarity with countries and communities currently affected by Ebola and paid tribute to frontline health workers and responders serving under difficult circumstances. The Ebola outbreak reminds us that health emergencies do not respect borders. Our response therefore cannot be fragmented, delayed, or reactive. No country can stand alone in the face of infectious disease threats, and our collective safety depends on coordination, timely information-sharing, and regional solidarity, he noted. Rwanda remains Ebola-free, and this is the result of deliberate investments in preparedness and resilient public health systems, he said. He noted that the government intensified surveillance at all points of entry, strengthened screening and laboratory capacity, pre-positioned essential medical supplies, trained health personnel, reinforced emergency response mechanisms, and maintained public awareness campaigns since the outbreak was declared in the region. He added that Rwanda has worked closely with neighbouring countries and regional institutions to strengthen coordination, prevent cross-border transmission, and ensure the safe movement of people and goods. We remain committed to deepening this cooperation because the security of one nation is inseparable from the security of all, he said. Nsengiyumva also commended the developments in the regional response, noting that Goma and Bukavu cities in eastern DR Congo had no active Ebola cases and that Uganda had not recorded new cases in the previous week. This progress highlights our united commitment to protecting lives and reflects our resilience in combating the health emergencies that confront us, he said. Expected outcomes of the meeting included commitments by Member States and partners to support the continental response and readiness plan, improved access for response partners to assess needs and assist affected areas, and strengthened cross-border coordination among affected and at-risk countries.
