TheCable

Rwandan authorities on Thursday lifted travel restrictions placed by its ministry of health on travellers from the United States and Spain, after Paul Kagame, the president, publicly told the health minister it was unnecessary.

On Tuesday, the Rwandan health ministry ordered the screening of travellers from any of the Ebola-stricken nations, including the United States and Spain.

“To protect the health of all residents and visitors to Rwanda, all incoming passengers from the Republic of Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Sierra Leone, USA and Spain or anyone or anyone who has travelled to these countries within the last 22 days, you are requested to call our toll free line 114 on a daily basis and give a brief update of your health status to our call agents,” the statement read.

“This must be done during the duration of your stay and at least 21 days for those planning to stay longer.”

Kagame, who made this known via his Twitter account, said that the measure was not well-thought-out by the minister.

“It is good min. Of health dr binagwaho #Rwanda reversed herself on Ebola decision with respect to some countries she mentioned…not necessary,” he wrote on Twitter.

“She has sometimes acted first and thought later; it should be the other way round.”

Though not less than 4,877 people have died in what has become the world’s worst recorded outbreak of Ebola, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday that the true toll may be three times as much.

Rwanda is an Ebola-free country in central and east Africa with a population of about 12 million people.