The Government of Ethiopia plans to deploy 200 volunteer health professionals to Ebola affected countries in West Africa along with USD 500,000 of financial support. Ethiopia’s support to West Africa will focus on strengthening case management, surveillance and organization of community care.

“If the WHO prediction of 10,000 cases per week becomes true, we need to strengthen especially community care,” said Dr Kesetebirhan Admasu, Minister of Health in the press conference held at the Ministry of Health on 24 October. The Minister of Health highlighted that the Ebola affected countries can learn from Ethiopia’s experience in building a strong community healthcare system.

Dr Pierre M’Pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative to Ethiopia congratulated, on behalf of Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director General, and Dr Luis G. Sambo, WHO Regional Director for Africa, the Ethiopian Government for its important commitment to the Ebola outbreak response. “Making this commitment on United Nations day shows the solidarity and unity in Africa to face the challenges on our continent together to improve the lives of the people.”

Ethiopia’s commitment follows the African Union’s appeal to its member states to urgently fill the critical gaps in the Ebola outbreak response. “This initiative from Ethiopia, the host country of the African Union Headquarters, is very important and it can encourage other member states to follow with their support,” said Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Commission.

Ethiopia’s team of health professionals will consist of medical doctors, nurses, field epidemiologists, environmental health professionals and public health specialists, who will support the strengthening of national health systems and Ebola outbreak response efforts in the affected West African countries.

For more information, please contact Dr Kebba O'Jaiteh, Outbreak, Crisis and Response, WHO Ethiopia; jaitehk [at] who.int (jaitehk[at]who[dot]int)

Photos: WHO Ethiopia/ Viivi Erkkila