Press Release Nº290/2014

Ethiopia Contributes to African Union Ebola Response Efforts

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia–24 October 2014:The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has answered to the appeal made by the African Union Commission Chairperson, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma last week to Member States to urgently contribute human resources to the fight against Ebola in West Africa.

In their response, the Ethiopian Government has pledged to deploy 200 volunteer health professionals to West Africa and also donated 500,000 USD to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The health professionals comprises medical doctors, nurses, field epidemiologists, environmental health personnel and public health specialists. These medics will engage in Ebola case management/treatment, surveillance, contact tracing, social mobilization, and community engagement, and will also assist national health systems in the affected countries to continue their essential and basic health, food, water and sanitation services.

Making the announcement, the Ethiopia Minister of Health Dr. Kesetebirhan Admasu said “This new commitment of deploying medical staff can be considered as a continuation and commitment of Ethiopia’s firm stand for African solidarity. Ethiopia shall and will continue to support all efforts until this dreadful crisis is over”

Welcoming the Ethiopia offer, the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Ethiopia for the exemplary contribution and hopes that the positive decision of Ethiopia will encourage other Member States to favourably respond to the AU Chairperson’s call for contributions from Member States in the fight against Ebola.

In response the Ebola epidemic, the AU has deployed medical volunteers to Liberia and Sierra Leone under its African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak (Operation ASEOWA). The Commission is deploying another batch of health experts Guinea next week.

Meanwhile, as a mark of AU’s increasing concern about the Ebola epidemic, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is currently visiting the West African sub-region to assess the situation firsthand and show solidarity with the affected countries. Whilst there, Madam Zuma will also engage individual Member States as part of its ongoing efforts to remove air, maritime and border closures that are affecting humanitarian access, and have far reaching implications for the affected countries’ economies, that are still grappling with post conflict reconstruction.

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

Wurie Bah| | Social Affairs | African Union Commission |Tel: +251115182029 | E-mail: Bahw@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 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/