Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH AFRICA’S Border Management Authority (BMA) has conducted its second Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) simulation exercise as part of efforts to strengthen public health preparedness at ports of entry, including the busy Beitbridge Border Post.
The two-day multi-stakeholder exercise was carried out from August 19 to 20 at the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Musina. It follows an earlier EVD simulation held at OR Tambo International Airport on June 19 this year.
In a statement on Friday, the BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said the exercise was aimed at testing systems for early detection, notification, coordination and response to suspected high-consequence infectious diseases at ports of entry.
“Preparedness is fundamental to effective border management and the protection of public health,” said Dr Masiapato.
“The BMA continues to strengthen its readiness across different ports of entry. The Beitbridge simulation allows us to test our readiness in a high-volume land border environment and strengthen collaboration with our health, emergency response, law enforcement and international partners.”
Beitbridge is Sadc’s busiest land border crossing and a designated Port of Entry.
The port facilitates high volumes of commercial freight, public transport and travellers between South Africa and Zimbabwe daily and north of the Zambezi River.
Dr Masiapato said participants in the exercise included the National and Provincial Departments of Health, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Emergency Medical Services, SARS Customs, the South African National Defence Force, Musina Local Municipality, Zimbabwean health authorities, the Department of Agriculture, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and JHPIEGO.
He said the BMA delegation was led by Assistant Commissioner Mr Murdock Ramathuba and included officials from Port Health, Port Agriculture, Port Immigration and Risk Management.
“Day one comprised a Tabletop Exercise to test strategic coordination, notification procedures, roles and cross-border information sharing. Day two involved a Functional Exercise at the port and hospital to demonstrate operational response while routine border operations continued,” he said.
“The scenario tested procedures for managing a suspected imported EVD case, including screening, isolation, patient referral, contact tracing, environmental decontamination and disinformation management.
“It also assessed the role of BMA Port Health Services in facilitating safe transportation and stakeholder communication.”
The BMA said continued testing and collaboration are intended to strengthen the country’s ability to protect public health while ensuring the safe movement of people and goods across borders.
