UN sees need to mobilise resources to fight Ebola

-United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, says there is need to mobilise resources to contain the outbreak of the Ebola, describing the disease as an unprecedented crisis.

 

Mr Ban says it is for this reason the UN has launched a health operation—the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response—to mobilise all the resources needed to reinforce the work being done by countries and communities affected.

 

The UN Chief said the mission combines expertise of the World Health Organsiation with logistical capacities of the United Nations.

 

Mr Ban was speaking in New York Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 69^th UN General Assembly. President Michael Sata is along world leaders attending the UN General Assembly.

 

He told world leaders attending the General Assembly that the UN now needs a twenty-fold surge in care, tracking, transport and equipment.

 

Mr Ban pointed out that there is need to fight the virus of fear and misinformation as bans on travel or transport will not keep Ebola from getting out but will keep medical personnel and supplies from getting in.

 

“We need to isolate people affected by Ebola-not the nations struggling to cope with it,” he said.

 

The UN Chief called upon world leaders to help the people of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone bring the outbreak to an end.

 

Speaking at the same occasion, US President, Barack Obama, said his country is deploying doctors and scientists supported by the military, to help contain the outbreak of Ebola and pursue new treatments.

 

But Mr Obama stressed the need for a broader effort to stop the disease that could kill hundreds of thousands, inflict horrific suffering, destabilize economies and move rapidly across borders.

 

“It is easy to see this as a distant problem-until isn’t. That is why we will continue mobilizing other countries to join us in making concrete commitments to fight this outbreak and enhance global health security for the long term.”

 

President Obama pointed out that America is committed to a development agenda that eradicates extreme poverty by 2030.

 

He said America will do its part to help people feed themselves, power their economies and care for their sick.