Press Release NO. 184/ 2014

African Union deploys more volunteers for the Ebola fight
Announces business roundtable for resource mobilisation

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia– 06 November 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Wednesday expressed appreciation to the third group of African volunteers who are being deployed under the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) operation, for their commitment to assist affected countries, in keeping with the founding pan African solidarity principles of the African Union.

“We thank you very much, you make us proud, you are doing a service to humanity” said the AU Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, while addressing the volunteers at the African Union headquarters. The African Union Commission has already deployed a total of 48 volunteers to Sierra Leone and to Liberia.

The new team of volunteers includes doctors, laboratory experts, data analysts and communication experts different African countries.

“We are in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. We can have African solutions to African problems” said Rwandan Medical Epidemiologist Landry Mayigane who is one of the volunteers being deployed to West Africa. “We request the Africa Union Commission to lobby with Heads of State and Government to ensure that we do not face stigmatisation when we return to our countries. We will do our best to help our brothers and sisters in West Africa and take all measures to remain safe” he added.

The Commission is engaging the Union’s Member States for additional volunteers. To date various Member States have responded including Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda and the modalities for their deployment are being worked out.

The Chairperson also announced that the African Union will meet with top business people from the African continent this Saturday to see how they can also be involved in the fight against Ebola and, more broadly, to discuss how the private sector can help in the transition period to revive the affected countries’ economies.

The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak (Operation ASEOWA) is deploying volunteers from across the continent to ensure that Ebola is defeated.

For more information, visit http://www.africa-union.org

For further information contact

Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Tawanda Chisango| | Social Affairs | African Union Commission |Tel: +251115182029 | E-mail: Chisangot@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int |Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

About the African Union

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision:to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peacewith itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable,efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/