Conakry, 25 February 2015 – In an audience with the President of the Republic of Guinea, on 25 February 2015, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, expressed sincere congratulations to President Alpha Condé for his leadership role that has enabled to achieve good results. She welcomed the measures adopted to end Ebola virus disease in Guinea.

"My top priority, since I took office on 1 February 2015, has been the eradication of Ebola virus disease. Therefore, my tour of the most affected countries is intended to give the authorities and populations of these countries my support, and also to have a better understanding of the situation on the ground, know more about the challenges and, together with other partners, identify the difficulties encountered. Lastly, in conjunction with WHO teams on the ground, we will consider how to intensify and notably direct our assistance”, she told President Alpha Condé. 

The WHO Regional Director for Africa said she is confident about the outcome of the Ebola epidemic that is being brought to an end. She however expressed concern about reluctance in some communities, particularly forms of resistance that has turned into physical violence in some localities, all of which is hampering the work of the Ebola response teams deployed on the ground.

President Alpha Condé said the visit of the WHO Regional Director for Africa was very encouraging. “We wish that efforts will be multiplied tenfold so as to respect the 10 March deadline set for ending transmission of Ebola”, the President of the Republic said, while at the same time recognizing the weakness of Guinea’s health system. He also expressed concern about the upsurge of new cases, notably in the country’s coastal region. He added that “the difficulties encountered in Conakry are due to unsafe burials and reluctance within communities, among others”.

President Alpha Condé commended WHO for its leadership and multifaceted support. He wished that “response teams will be strengthened in Conakry and in the interior of the country to end transmission of the disease as soon as possible”.

Before the President of the Republic, the WHO Regional Director for Africa was received in audience earlier in the morning by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Mr Mohamed Saïd Fofana, who also commended WHO’s leadership and support since the start of the epidemic. Like the President of the Republic, he called for the intensification of response activities in order to end transmission of the disease. “This epidemic is seriously affecting all aspects of socioeconomic life in the country, a situation that has gone on too long”, the Prime Minister underscored. He emphasized in particular the need to strengthen the country’s health system, from a post-Ebola perspective.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, is currently visiting the three most Ebola-affected countries. Prior to her arrival in Guinea, on 24 February 2015, she had been to Sierra Leone.

The Regional Director, during her stay in Guinea, will carry out several activities including a trip to the interior of the country to witness the realities of Ebola treatment centres, meet humanitarian workers, health workers from whom the epidemic has taken a heavy toll, discuss with communities, local authorities and persons healed from Ebola.

Another item top on the agenda of the Regional Director’s visit to Guinea is seeking ways and means to strengthen the country’s health system after the Ebola epidemic.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical contact:

Pr Jean-Marie Dangou, WHO Representative in Guinea; Telephone: +224 623 23 55 55; Email: dangouj [at] who.int (dangouj[at]who[dot]int)

Media contacts:

Issiaga Konaté, Communication and Health Promotion, WHO Guinea; Telephone: + 224 622 59 70 42; Email: '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text53792 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> 
Jean-Pierre Ouendéno, WHO consultant; Telephone: +224 623 23 26 63/662 519 012; Email: jpdekossa [at] yahoo.fr (jpdekossa[at]yahoo[dot]fr)
Lancei Touré; Telephone:  + 224 628 10 71 28; Email: lanceit [at] yahoo.com (lanceit[at]yahoo[dot]com)
Boakye-Agyemang Collins, Communications Officer, WHO/AFRO; Email: boakyeagyemanc [at] who.int (boakyeagyemanc[at]who[dot]int)
Koné Souleymane, HPR/WHO/Côte d’Ivoire; Email: koneso [at] who.int (koneso[at]who[dot]int)