Events

PRESS RELEASE Nº372/2014

ETHIOPIA LAUNCHES AFRICA AGAINST EBOLA SMS CAMPAIGN
Ethiopia using 7979 short code to raise funds

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia December 20, 2014: The African Union in collaboration with the Ethiopian Government launched the Africa Against Ebola Ethiopia SMS campaign today.

The campaign aims to involve African citizens to contribute in the fight against the epidemic and mobilise citizens across the continent to contribute in the fight against Ebola by texting “StopEbola” to the designated country code and donating. The funds raised will be used for the training and deployment of further ASEOWA personnel.

At today’s event, the African Union Commission also signed an MOU with Ethiopian telecommunications corporation as part of the resource mobilization efforts to support the ASEOWA operations in the fight against Ebola.

The Chairperson of the AUC H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in her opening remarks expressed her sincere gratitude to the Ethiopian Government and the private sector for joining the SMS campaign in the fight against Ebola. “We are especially grateful to the Government of Ethiopia because they have also sent a lot of their young women and men to the front line to work with their brothers and sisters in the three countries. Looking at the figures, Ethiopia has the biggest contingent on the ground, just above Nigeria” noted
H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. She also added that “this will encourage our partners outside Africa when they see we are taking a lead sending our young women and men, raising our own funds within our continent. It is encouraging to see that we are just not sitting here and doing noting waiting for people from outside to help and we hope that with this, we are able to make a difference in the fight against Ebola.”

The Chairperson announced that the AU, under its African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, now has just under 500 health workers fighting Ebola in the most affected countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone and that it expects to have 1000 soon.

Mr. Andualem Admassie, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Telecom in his speech said, “If we do not come together in coordinating and addressing the epidemic, it will not just be limited to the 3 countries it will ultimately affect all of Africa. Each and every African has to do what they can to reverse the effects of Ebola”, adding “Ethiopians and residents of Ethiopia can join the fight by contributing 5 birr by sending a text ’’StopEbola” to the short code for Ethiopia 7979”

Mr. Eyob Tolina, representing the Ethiopian private sector called upon the people of Ethiopia to take part in this campaign, and urged the business community to continue their pledge to participate in the Africa Against Ebola campaign.

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommission

Learn more at:
http://www.au.int

AU-ASEOWA MANNED ETU DISCHARGES 11 EBOLA SURVIVORS

Monrovia, Liberia 12 December 2014- The African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) medical team in charge of the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) at MOD1 in Monrovia Liberia, discharged 11 Ebola survivors.

It was a mix of emotions for the survivors and their families who were waiting to re-unite with their loved ones who have ‘passed through the valley of the shadow of death’ in the past few weeks. The survivors were each given relief kits to assist them in their new start of a new life after Ebola.

For Further Information on the AU response to the Ebola outbreak 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
ToluwaniOloke

ASEOWA Liberia, folaketolu@yahoo.com, +231888166806

ASEOWA, SIERRA LEONE BOOSTED BY AN ADDITIONAL 103 CLINICAL AND MEDICAL HEALTH WORKERS

Lungi, Sierra Leone, 5 December 2014: The African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA), Sierra Leone, has received an additional 103 clinical and medical volunteers. The new team, made up of Nigerians arrived at the Lungi International Airport at 2:25 pm on the 5th of December. They were received by Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H.E. (Mrs.) Gladys M. Quist-Adebiyi, Sierra Leonean Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Foday Sesay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. (Mrs.) Ebun Strasser-King, Regional Coordinator, Northern Province of the National Ebola Response Commission (NERC), Mr. M.A. Jallow, the District Coordinator of the NERC (Port Loko), Mr. Raymond Kambia and ASEOWA Deputy Head of Mission, Dr. Richard Ssekitoleko.
The team led by the Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Prof. A. Nasidi, was deployed following two days orientations conducted by the African Union in Lagos, Nigeria.
In her welcoming remarks, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone lauded the concerted efforts in the fight against Ebola and in particular the contribution of the medical personnel, remarking on the enormous capacity both in human and material value that the Nigerian Government has brought to tackle the scourge. “I want to emphasize that this team did not come alone but also with mobile laboratories and lab technicians, an expression of the seriousness of this deployment. We know that sooner rather than later we will kick Ebola out of Sierra Leone,” she added.
Prof. A. Nasidi disclosed that the deployment was part of the comprehensive support of Nigerian Government that also includes continuous technical manpower development and cross-fertilization of expertise that will witness training of 12 Sierra Leoneans at the NCDC. He noted the significant addition that the federated states of Nigeria have made to the deployment, in a bid to beat and be ahead of the virus.
“One of the few lessons we learnt in Nigeria and how we successfully kicked Ebola out of Nigeria is by coordinating responses not only as a case sector activity but a total package that encompasses mobilizing the public about the disease, taking care of the patient and taking care of the environment where the virus is spreading to,” he mentioned.
As part of the ongoing African Union support to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the AU Commission has made an initial deployment of 87 clinical, medical and logistical personnel to the affected Member States, 31 of whom were deployed to Sierra Leone. The team has since been redeployed into the various pillars - Case Management, Epidemiology/Surveillance, Logistics, Psychosocial and Social Mobilization - set up by the Government of Sierra Leone. In partnership with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health, ASEOWA team is coordinating the management of the newly opened ETU in Magbenteh, Bombali District. The latest arrival is expected to consolidate on the achievements of ASEOWA and also backstop the health sector in Sierra Leone.
Welcoming the volunteers, the Deputy Head of Mission, on behalf of the Head of Mission expressed appreciation to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, African Union and the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the holistic approach to combat of the disease outbreak in Sierra Leone. “You are joining a team of 31 AU medical experts already involved in the EVD fight, operating in the Northern District of Bombali at the level of the various pillars set up by the Government. We are confident that your addition to the team already on ground will further strengthen our capacity and elevate our collective achievements,” he added.
The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa through the Executive Council Decision at its Sixteenth Extraordinary Session held on 8th September 2014 in Addis Ababa has been deploying medicaland human resource capacities in response to the Ebola Virus Outbreak in West Africa.
For Further Information on the AU response to the Ebola outbreak 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

Temitope Famuyide, Humanitarian Affairs Officer
ASEOWA, Bombali, Sierra Leone
tpfamuyide@gmail.com+232 76796445

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Follow us
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommission
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AUCommission

Learn more at: www.au.int

AU Sends additional 250 Health Experts to Ebola Affected Countries
Partners with Mobile Operators to launch AfricaAgainstEbola SMS campaign

Lagos, Nigeria 3rdDecember, 2014 – As part of the African Union’s effort to stop the Ebola disease in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, two hundred and fifty (250) health volunteers from the Federal Republic of Nigeria were given a send off ceremony on 3rd December in Lagos before deployment to the affected countries. The Nigerian health contingent will be part of the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) operations already deployed in the three countries.

The medics were assembled by the Federal Government of Nigeria in response to the appeal made by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for Member States to contribute health personnel to join the fight against Ebola. The team comprises medical doctors, nurses and other medical and paramedical personnel and epidemiologists.

Meanwhile, at the historic ceremony, the AU Commission in collobaration with mobile telecom operators and other private sector companies, launched an sms campaign, as part of the resource mobilization efforts to support the ASEOWA operations. The SMS campaign aims to mobilise citizens across the Continent to contribute in the fight against Ebola by texting “StopEbola” to 7979 and donating one USD per message. The funds raised will be used for the training and deploymentof further ASEOWA personnel. The AU is targetting to deploy more than 1000 volunteers before the end of the year.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Dlamini Zuma expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria for contributing health professionals to the fight to Ebola. She called for a united front against Ebola and encouraged that “ we must not relent as long as Ebola remains a real threat to our existence”. The AU Chairperson futher appealed for the resumption of flights to the affected countries so as to end the isolation and stigmatization of the three countries. Finally, she appealed to all citizens of the Continent to contribute to the AfricaAgainstEbola campaign.

The Executive Chairman of Econet Wireless Mr Strive Masiyiwa lauded the African Union foe acting decisively to defeat Ebola. “It is appropriate that at a time when we are facing a medical crisis, we have able leadership in the form of Dr Dlamini Zuma”.

The Nigerian Minister of Health Dr Khaliru Alhassan, speaking on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan assured the AU of Nigeria’s commitment in the fight against Ebola and that the country will continue to play a leadership role and share the country’s experiences on stopping the disease.

Speaking on behalf of the private sector and introducing the AfricaAgainstEbola initiative, businessman Mr. Aliko Dangote called for the mobilsation of every resource and appealed to “every African citizen to contribute by SMS to the fight to stop Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone”. I want to thank all the GMS operators for making this possible” he concluded. It will recalled that during the Africa business round table conference in Addis Ababa last month, thirty two and a half million USD was contributed by the private sector across the continent.

AU Commissioner of Social Affairs Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko appraised the meeting of the AU intervention since April 2014 to date. He highlighted the decisions made by the AU structures and key deployments that have been made to the three affected countries.

At present, the AU has deployed hundreds of health experts in the three most affected countries to fight the Ebola disease. Due to the high demand for more personnel needed to join the fight against Ebola, Member States have responded favourably to the AU Chairperon’s appeal for more contribution of health personnel to the AU team. In a related development, another 210 health volunteers from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and 52 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be deployed to the sub region in a fortnight under the ASEOWAoperations.

For further information contact

Wynne Musabayana| Department of Information and Communication | 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

Wurie Bah|Social Affairs | African Union Commission |Tel: +251912621689| E-mail: bahw@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/

Press Statement
African Union Member States urged to increase domestic financing for health to end AIDS by 2030

Victoria Falls, 30 November 2014- African Union Member States were urged on Sunday to increase domestic financing to end AIDS by 2030. The high level meeting on domestic financing was jointly hosted by the African Union and the Republic of Zimbabwe on 30 November 2014 in Victoria Falls ahead of the 1 December continental World AIDS Day Celebrations. Various African countries are using different models to tap resources from existing opportunities across the continent to address the AIDS epidemic.
“I am encouraged that a decade after the Abuja commitments, various countries have begun to explore and operationalise sustainable domestic funding options, including earmarking 0.5% to 1% of ordinary government revenues to an HIV Trust Fund” said Dr. David Parirenyatwa, the Minister of Health and Child Care of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
In the last four years alone African countries have increased their domestic resources to fight AIDS by 150%. African countries are closer to reaching the agreed Abuja target of allocating 15% of their total government expenditure to health.

“African countries are now taking advantage of the blossoming of Africa’s economies that has enabled dynamic cycles of domestic revenues, decreased aid dependency and created strong domestic revenues to strengthen health systems” said Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko the Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Commission.
While considerable progress has been made in recent years in making critical investments in social development including the health sector; the continent continues to lag behind other regions in terms of the proportions of national budgetary resources allocations to the health sector
“Existing financing mechanisms should be enriched with new actors, complementary resources and innovative models as governments alone cannot do everything in the health sector,” said Perry Mwangala, Senior Fund Portfolio Manager at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. “Complementary o the mechanism built into the new funding model of the Global Fund, a critical part of the global resource mobilisation strategy has been to involve implementing countries in the replenishment efforts and also to advocate and demonstrate increased domestic resources for health” he added.
However while Domestic Financing for health will be a major game changer for the future of Africa’s health, Official Development Assistance (ODA) still remains a critical component of solidarity for global health and development. Many of the countries with the heaviest disease burdens are unable to fund their disease responses without international support.
“Community based organisations are mobilising their own communities to mobilise resources for AIDS. Governments and donors should reach out to these grassroots to assist in strengthening their programmes which are making significant progress”; said Richman Rangwani, the Director of Simbarashe AIDS Network.

The meeting also discussed mobilisation of resources for HIV in Environmental Impact Assessments for huge infrastructure projects that are currently ongoing across Africa. The meeting also called for development of key advocacy messages that can be utilized in various key meetings by African leaders to push for domestic financing. This year the continental World AIDS Day Commemorations are being celebrated under the theme “Getting to Zero in Africa: Africa’s Responsibility, Everyone’s Responsibility.
For more information, visit http://www.africa-union.org, http://www.nac.org.zw , www.aidswatchafrica.org

For further information contact
Medelina Dube| Information and Communication Director | National AIDS Council | Tel: +263 4 791178 |E-mail: mdube@nac.org.zw | Web: www.nac.org.zw |Harare| Zimbabwe

Tawanda Chisango| | AWA Programme Advocacy and Partnerships Expert | African Union Commission |Tel: +263 775 859 316| E-mail: Chisangot@africa-union.org
|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
About the National AIDS Council Zimbabwe
The National AIDS Council (NAC) is an organisation enacted through the Act of Parliament of 1999 to coordinate and facilitate the national multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS. It is also mandated to administer the National AIDS Trust Fund (NATF) collected through the AIDS Levy i.e. the 3% collected from every workers taxable income (PAYE) and corporate tax.