The EAC Secretariat and the EAC Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) in cooperation with AMREF Flying Doctors (AFD) will offer emergency COVID-19 intervention trainings for staff at the 8 international airports in the 6 EAC Partner States during this time of minimized activity at airports prior to resumption of normal travel.
”Investments in strengthening surveillance, building robust early-warning systems and coordinating public health responses of international airports will help to detect and respond to COVID-19 and prevent further spread,” says Emile Nguza Arao, Executive Director of CASSOA.
The training will be implemented by AMREF Flying Doctors to build the knowledge of staff on safety measures, surveillance, prevention and control strategies and relevant regional guidelines. ”AFD will offer a comprehensive Training of Trainers to enable the airports to develop their own staff training and surveillance regimes,” says Stephen Gitau, AFD Chief Executive Officer. ”This will contribute greatly toward the pillar of enhanced safety for travelers and the duty of care of Partner States towards their airport staff.”
According to Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors at the East African Community, this training programme was communicated to and was commended by the Joint Ministerial Meeting for the Ministers responsible for Health and Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs on the COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response on 25th March 2020.
The course design and curriculum development will be based on the International Health Regulations, best practices of the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control as well as the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
”It also covers measures highlighted in the EAC Regional Health Sector Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Response Plan, which is designed to support and help coordinate the regional response,” explains Dr Michael Katende, Acting Head of EAC’s Health Department.
The training is facilitated by the German Government through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in its effort to support states in their response to COVID-19. GIZ supports the EAC Secretariat in its advisory and coordinating role for the Partner States in pandemic preparedness.
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