MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: African Business Roundtable on Ebola

WHEN: 8 November starting at 09:00; Highlights for media include the opening ceremony to be addressed by Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Dr. Carlos Lopes, UNECA Executive Secretary and Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank as well as the press conference to be held at the end of the round table at about 12:20 Addis Ababa time

WHERE: African Union Conference Center Small Conference Room 1

WHY: The African Union is joining forces with Africa’s private sector, for the first time, to fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. The aim of the meeting is to mobilize resources from within Africa to join national and international efforts on the ground, as well as discuss reversing the economic decline of the countries and post-Ebola recovery.

WHO: The Roundtable is co-hosted by AUC Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Donald Kaberuka from the African Development Bank and Carlos Lopes from the UN Economic Commission for Africa. High profile African business people, including Yosuf Manji from Quality Group Tanzania, Strive Masiyiwa of Econet Zimbabwe and Patrice Motsepe of ARM South Africa have already confirmed their attendance. Other confirmed attendees are: Kola Karim, MD and CEO of Shoreline Energy International and Shoreline Power Company Limited, Ms. Cristine Stenbeck from Kinneveck, and Mr. Bob Collymore from Safaricom, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Through its AU Support to the Outbreak of Ebola in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission, the AU has deployed nearly a hundred volunteer medical and health workers as well as other specialists to the three affected countries. Among them are epidemiologists, medical doctors, clinicians, public health specialists and communications personnel. These teams have enhanced the capacity of existing national and international response mechanisms.

Following Dr. Dlamini Zuma’s call to all African Heads of State to contribute more health workers towards this effort, hundreds of medical personnel have so far been pledged. Contributions from the business people will support the deployment of these volunteers.

Media representatives are invited to attend the opening ceremony and the press conference that will take place immediately after the end of the meeting at around 12:20.

For media inquiries 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

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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 peace with 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/