Rwanda’s Response to Marburg Outbreak: President Kagame and WHO Director Discuss Efforts

President Paul Kagame recently engaged in a discussion with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), concerning Rwanda’s efforts to address the ongoing Marburg virus outbreak. The conversation was aimed at reviewing the country’s response and assessing the progress made in managing the outbreak.

Dr. Tedros took to his X account (formerly known as Twitter) to share details of the discussion, expressing his appreciation for President Kagame’s leadership during the crisis. He acknowledged Rwanda’s effective management and response to the outbreak, noting that the leadership had shown a strong commitment to controlling and ending the situation.

President Paul Kagame (left) has held a conversation with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (right).

Dr. Tedros, who has been in Kigali to evaluate the country’s handling of the outbreak, also emphasized Rwanda’s progress in other areas of public health. One of the key topics discussed was the establishment of a local vaccine manufacturing facility in Kigali, which is currently in development. According to Dr. Tedros, this facility is making significant progress and is being built with lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the key aims of the facility is to address equity challenges across Africa, ensuring the continent is better prepared to handle future public health crises.

The Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda was first reported on September 27, 2024. Since then, the Rwandan Ministry of Health has conducted widespread testing, with a total of 4,715 individuals being tested for the virus. Of these, 60 people were confirmed to be infected with the virus, and unfortunately, 15 individuals lost their lives.

Despite these challenges, Rwanda’s response has led to some positive outcomes. As of now, 44 individuals have successfully recovered from the infection, and only three patients remain under treatment. Moreover, in efforts to curb the spread of the virus, 1,070 people have already been vaccinated.

President Kagame’s conversation with Dr. Tedros highlighted both the country’s immediate response to the Marburg virus outbreak and its broader commitment to strengthening Rwanda’s healthcare infrastructure. The vaccine manufacturing facility, once completed, will serve as a significant asset in the fight against not only Marburg but also other future health crises, both within Rwanda and across Africa.

In summary, the discussion between President Kagame and Dr. Tedros showcased Rwanda’s proactive approach to dealing with the Marburg virus outbreak, while also emphasizing long-term investments in vaccine manufacturing to enhance the country’s capacity for future health challenges.

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