ECOWAS Member States have been called upon to set up Rapid Response Teams at national, district and regional levels, supported by Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committees as part of the preparedness and containment mechanisms against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic in the region.
Opening a Technical Coordination meeting in Accra on Thursday 15th January 2015 of ECOWAS partners on the fight against the outbreak, Ghana's Health Minister Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah said these mechanisms and proposed National Technical Coordinating Committees should provide guidance and assist the implementation of the health sector preparedness and response plans against Ebola and similar epidemics.
Member States, he said, should also take advantage of success stories and best practices from countries such as Nigeria in setting up and providing support through Public Education, Surveillance and Case management.
The Minister pointed out that success against Ebola lay with controlling the epidemic at source, adding: "This is the surest way our region and the entire world would be assured of safety and security from the menace of Ebola."
The technical session chaired by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Industry and Private Sector Promotion, Dr. Kalilou Traore, and with the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman also in attendance, featured presentations on the general situation as well as the socio-economic impact of the Ebola scourge on the region, Private sector involvement and the need for effective coordination of the multi-partner/stakeholder support and contributions.
Also present were Mr. Simfeitcheou Pre, Minister in Togo Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Xavier Crespin, Director General of the West African Health Organization (WAHO), the ECOWAS Specialized health agency and the Commissioner for General Administration and Conference Mr. Stephen Nartey.
The outcome of the technical session will feed into Friday's High Level Coordination Meeting of ECOWAS and partners also being held in the Ghanaian capital under the auspices of the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama and President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe of Togo, the Supervisor of the Process of the fight against Ebola in the region.
ECOWAS partners attending the meetings include the WHO, the African Union, the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), as well as EU and U.S. representatives, among others,
As part of the initial coordinated regional responses, an Ebola Solidarity Fund has since been established on the directive of ECOWAS leaders and financial assistance is being provided to the affected Member States from the Fund.
Dirtectorate of Communication
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