MALAWI LABs DO NOT HAVE EQUIPMENTS TO DETECT EBOLA VIRUS

Although Malawi Government through Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture have been on several times quoted in the Media that the country is ready to fight the spread of the virus in the country, FaceofMalawi has discovered that the Health system in the country cannot totally contain or detect the virus.

A presentation on the Ebola virus to the District Executive Committee for Blantyre by the District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Owen Malema on Wednesday disclosed that the country’s health facilities do not have effective equipment to contain the situation.

“Tests for the Ebola virus cannot be done in Malawi. Our laboratories are not up to the level that detects this virus. We will have to send the sample to South Africa if we suspect a case,” disclosed Dr Malema.

He said Malawi is still in preparatory phase to minimize the risk of transmission should the virus be detected in the country but does not have the full kit needed.

Meanwhile the Doctors have urged Malawians not to be under panic.

According to World Health Organization, as of August 4, there were more than 1,300 cases of the Ebola virus in the West African countries of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria and with as many as 729 deaths.