Following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, many countries have put in place measures to shield their populations from the contagious disease. Neighbouring countries have closed borders with those affected by the virus while others have instituted travel bans. Rwanda is among the latter, all in a bid to keep the epidemic at bay. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) is against travel bans and other measures that might be seen to isolate the beleaguered countries, it, in the first place, failed the countries by not coming out with concrete measures when the disease broke out. The speed by which it spread in West Africa necessitated drastic measures to contain it; it was not abandoning the afflicted countries. Travel bans are painful but sometimes necessary decisions to make since cross-border trade is the life line of many. Now, with cases of Ebola being discovered in D.R Congo, Rwanda might soon take similar measures against her neighbour: Better safe than sorry. The spread of Ebola in some of the affected countries was fueled, in most cases, by traditional beliefs and practices, but the biggest culprits were governments that did not act quickly and firmly enough. A mindset change is urgently needed. On the other hand, WHO should be at the forefront of seeking means to alleviate the scourge by mobilising pharmaceutical firms and medical facilities, such as the ones that were instrumental in curing two American victims, to get into action. There should be no excuses of the cost it might take because human life has no price tag.
