Addis Ababa, 29 March 2015 (ECA).- The Minister of State for the Economy and Finance of Guinea, Mr. Mohamed Diaré, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Development Planning of Liberia, Mr. Mounir Siaplay and the Ambassador of Sierra Leone in Ethiopia, Mr. Ousmane Keh Kamara participated in a panel discussion on the Ebola virus disease. This panel focused notably on the recovery plans for those countries most affected.
It emerged from their presentations followed by discussions that, highly motivated by political will, the Presidents of the three countries are working together to eradicate the Ebola virus disease once and for all.
These discussions also highlighted the recovery plans developed through a participative approach to take into account the existing situation and the sectors which were seriously affected.
The contributions of the national communities of all origins were also discussed and are significant. In effect, it is on the basis of the structural changes that they have adopted together that the complete eradication of the disease will depend.
Finally, the Ministers launched a vibrant appeal to the funders to support the recovery plans for both national and sub-regional projects and they intend to request additional funds during the joint meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund planned for April 16-18, 2015 in Washington.
The panel was chaired by the Regional Director of the World Health Organization, Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti.
In her opening speech, she recalled that the Ebola virus disease in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone had resulted in 25 000 cases, including 10 000 deaths. “Today” she said, “we are seeing a sharp fall in the number of cases infected, but this should not lead these countries and the international community to lower their guard and prevent the rapid achievement of the objective of zero cases”.
She also addressed the commitment of the African Union, the ECA and the international community which had made it possible to mobilize 2.4 billion USD to combat the epidemic before thanking the 3 countries for initiating strategies and plans for recovery with the aim of solidifying their economies and building stronger health systems.
During this parallel event on Ebola, the representatives of the four institutions that were heavily involved in the combat also spoke.
Thus, for Mr. Ayodele Odusola from the Regional UNDP Office, “the UNDP is working together with the 3 countries to obtain final data in order to determine the costs and to promote their recovery plans”.
On his part, Dr. Dimitri Sanga, Director of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, considered that the international community still has to mobilize to combat Ebola and this is why “the ECA has marked its solidarity by visiting these countries, gathering information from them and carrying out an intense advocacy campaign in favor of the cancellation of their debts”.
As for the Director of Social Affairs of the African Union, M.Olawale Maiyegun, he said that “the African Union and the international community will accompany these countries which must appropriate these recovery plans”.
Finally, the Vice President of the AfDB reaffirmed that her institution had provided 210 million USD in budget support funds to the 3 countries and would continue to support their efforts.
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