ASEOWA WILL SUPPORT RESTORATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES– ASEOWA HEAD OF MISSION

Wednesday 18th February, 2015 – The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) has renewed its commitment to end the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Speaking from Guinea, the ASEOWA Head of Mission, Major General Julius Oketta said, “In the spirit of pan-Africanism and African solidarity, we are committed to saving lives. Our mission is to work selflessly with the governments and the populations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone respectively until the World Health Organization (WHO) declares all the three countries free from the Ebola Virus Disease”. He added that, “ASEOWA will support the transition from the Ebola crisis into the post Ebola phase, restoring public health services and infrastructure in the affected countries”.

In addition to managing Ebola Treatment Units (ETU) in all three countries, the ASEOWA mission is training local clinicians, epidemiologists and other paramedical staff working towards the eradication of the epidemic. “We are also providing support on social mobilization and psycho-social issues, in order to remove resistance and win the hearts of communities”.

According to the Deputy Head of Mission in Guinea, Dr Aguide Soumouk, “The African Union is at the service of the Guinean government and population, and we are determined to work until there is no case of Ebola in the country”.

It must be noted that the African Union is co-managing the ETU in Coyah. According to Dr. Dally Muamba, based in Coyah, “We have discharged thirty (30) Ebola survivors since the opening of the treatment unit, on 31st December, 2014”. The African Union has also contributed two (2) air conditioners for the proper functioning of the laboratory in the ETU in Coyah.

Since November 2014, the African Union has deployed over one hundred and twenty medical and paramedical professionals in Guinea; many of whom are presently working in eleven prefectures across the country. On 17th February, 2015, the ASEOWA Head of Mission paid working visits to the Minister of Health and to the WHO representative in Guinea. He also visited the ETU in Coyah to give moral support to the health workers. “Continue to save lives and to stay safe”, he said, “We are proud to say that none of our staff has been infected since ASEOWA began its operations in affected countries in September 2014”.

For more information:
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

Paschal Chem-Langhee,
Public Information and Communication Officer,
The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA),
Conakry, Guinea.
Website: http://pages.au.int/ebola
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