AFRICA AMBASSADORS IN THE RUSSIA FEDERATION ISSUED A DECLARATION IN MOSCOW ON EBOLA 10TH SEPTEMBER, 2014. By Maitland Cole, Information Attaché, Moscow, Russia. The committee representing a group of African Ambassadors accredited to the Russia Federation issued a Declaration on the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa. Presenting the seven point Declaration, His Excellency John Sahr Yambasu informed the press in Moscow that there has been an unprecedented outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus since March, 2014 in the sub-region, which if not contained could have the propensity to escalate. He appealed to the Press to disseminate the information to the Russian public and the World as Ebola is not only an African problem but has become a Global concern. The Ambassador pointed out that the outbreak has assumed a pandemic proportion and the alarming rate of its infection and mortality has no comparison in the history of Ebola Virus, adding that the disease has claimed more than 2500 lives and infected over 3500 in the Republics of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria. He said the devastating nature of the deadly Ebola outbreak on the lives and economies of the countries affected, namely, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia and the affected countries and the lack of equipment to manage and heal the affected people becomes frustrating and devastating. Subsequently, we as a nation have no choice but to call on the Russian Federation for assistance. Cognizant of the good bilateral relations existing between Africa and Russia and being quite aware of the Russian high level of medical capacity, he went on; we the group of Ambassadors call on Russia today to assist in the fight against Ebola. He commended the laudable efforts made by the respective governments, foreign partners, donors and World Health Organization (WHO) to fight the disease in the region but the disease has continued in its trail of destruction, to this end It was agreed that a note should be addressed to the Russian Foreign Minister soliciting a meeting with him and the group of African Ambassadors as a matter of urgency. In his contribution, the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Leonard Balogun Koroma, on a visit to Moscow informed the Press, compare Ebola to a plague or pandemic in nature, taking the lives of citizens in the West African sub-region adding that women and children are the most vulnerable. He intimidated that members of the medical profession were not spared and the diseases have crippled the economies of these countries. According to him “We don’t know about Ebola, we were not prepared for it and it is devastating our countries, destroying our economies and killing our people.” The Minister further outlined strategies that have been put in place by the Government of Sierra Leone to contain the Virus, the preventive measures such as the emergency Ebola Taskforce which respond to outbreak of mysterious virus, feared to be Ebola. He said that the Taskforce comprise the representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, and United Nations who meets on a daily basses, workout strategies for combating the pandemic. The Minister maintained that in addition to the Task Force, medical team, Contact tracing Team and Burial Team were created. To that end they need training, protective clothing and gears. Adding that “We have teams of doctors, we have isolation centers, but we don’t have enough treatment centers and laboratories to test for the disease,” the Minister declared. He requested the Russian Government to use their comparative strength and expertise to provide assistance to the fight against Ebola in West Africa sub-region. He stressed that the urgently needs assistance for medicines, laboratories, ambulances, medical equipments like gloves, apron, boots or operation bags, sprayers, chlorine etc. The Ambassador of Burundi, Else Nizigam Ntamagiro, in her contribution mentioned that, the women are more vulnerable in the case of Ebola. Other speakers included the acting Ambassador of Nigeria, the deputy Dean of the Diplomatic core, the Somalia representative -Dr. Mohamed Handulle, the Moderator at the Press conference-pavel Davydov
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 12:44:50 +0000