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GOVT TO SHUT DOWN INFORMAL BORDER CROSSINGS

08/03/2020 00:57:00 BY WELCOME DLAMINI

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MBABANE – Desperate times call for desperate measures. With neighbouring South Africa confirming its second coronavirus case yesterday, Prime Minister (PM) Ambrose Dlamini announced the need to seal the existing informal border crossings with the neighbouring republic.

There are several illegal crossing spots between South Africa and Eswatini and some of these are found along the strip of fence that lines the road between Pongola and Piet Retief.

Previous reports have indicated that it is not just emaSwati who used these spots to move between the two countries but Mozambicans and other nationalities are said to favour these routes because they are considered less risky.
Asian nationals, who are now found in every region in the kingdom, are also known to be frequent users of the informal crossing points where they manoeuvre in and out of Eswatini without producing the required documents.

Yesterday, the PM acknowledged that the Kingdom of Eswatini remained ‘high risk’ in terms of the coronavirus outbreak, but called for calm.

He said as a country, there was no other option but to take all the necessary steps to amplify intervention and response strategies.
Closing the informal crossing is one of these strategies.
“It is also crucial that we effect a total shutdown of all informal crossings while upscaling screening in all our ports of entry.” The PM said.

Pupils who live close to these informal crossings use them to attend school in the neighbouring republic where they are enrolled from primary to high school.

Those residing near the crossings also use them to go to South Africa daily for various activities, mostly trade and employment.
Neighbours engaged

The PM said government was engaging with neighbouring countries to heighten collaboration efforts in the response to the epidemic.

Dlamini said this during his tour of the Lubombo Referral Hospital and other health facilities in readiness for the coronavirus.
The referral hospital, according to the PM, has been identified as the facility where individuals who might test positive for coronavirus would be quarantined.

He said government was intensifying its preparedness and response strategy to tackle this public health emergency of international concern.

Currently, the PM said, an agreement has been established with NICD laboratory in South Africa for sample testing.
But, he said, based on currently available information, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had not yet recommended restrictions of travel or trade.

“However, government continues to advise emaSwati to take major precautions when travelling to the most affected countries. If possible, we would advise emaSwati to only travel to these countries when it is absolutely necessary,” he cautioned.

Dlamini appealed for vigilance instead of panic and for the nation to take all the necessary prevention measures to minimise the risk of getting infected.

“This is a time to be vigilant as a nation in our preparedness for an unfortunate eventuality of a coronavirus outbreak in our shores, but it is not a time to panic. It is when we panic and are not measured in our response to this epidemic that we involuntarily allow an infiltration of myths and misinformation on prevention measures to take centre stage,” the PM said.

The E100m request

He highlighted the E100 million that Cabinet has requested from parliament to strengthen the country’s operational readiness to respond effectively to the coronavirus epidemic and effect a detailed contingency plan.
“The success of this response and intervention relies on the support of all sectors of society, including the business sector, development and implementing partners, traditional authorities and communities across our country,” the PM said.

He mentioned that government remained indebted to the country’s international partners for rallying behind the kingdom’s intervention efforts.

He appealed for more collaboration and assistance in strengthening the health care delivery system to ensure it consistently meets international health standards and is equally effective in preventing and managing any outbreak of infectious diseases.

Dlamini stated that yesterday’s tour of the health facilities that have been converted into isolation centres or infectious disease facilities gave government an opportunity to assess the centres’ readiness for the eventuality of an outbreak.
“The intention is to ensure that these facilities are fully equipped and have resources to manage current and future emerging infectious diseases,” he said.

The PM outlined that government was going ahead with the process of strengthening preparedness for health emergencies and coronavirus in particular, in line with international health regulations.
He said risk communication to the public would be intensified to avoid and limit transmission of the virus and to dispel disinformation, which tends to gain traction whenever there was a vacuum of accurate information.

“It is important that the public receives appropriate messages on the prevention and management of this virus for which there is still no cure, yet it is equally important to emphasise that it is not a death sentence,” he emphasised.

He added that coronavirus was a flu like illness hence infection prevention and control remained key in its control. “Constant hand washing can never be over emphasised since it reduces the risk of getting infected,” he stated.

The Kingdom of Eswatini does not yet have a confirmed case of coronavirus but has had a suspected case involving a woman who entered the kingdom on February 6 after travelling from China to South Africa.

The results, however, came back negative; something that brought huge relief to a nation that was on tenterhooks.
Dr Vusi Magagula, the Director of Health Services, revealed that tests carried out in South Africa came back negative, saying this case helped them to assess the state of readiness for a potential case in future.