Ebola Fear Affects Response

Ambassador Samantha Power and Anthony Banbury at the press meeting 

United States (US) Permanent Secretary to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Samantha Power, has named fear as one of the major challenges facing the international community's response to the Ebola virus.

She said although there is an improvement in Ebola awareness, 'It is fear that causes countries to take measures that ultimately will deter the infusion of health workers and others who can be part of the solution.'

The US representative to the UN further cited underfunded UN appeal, inadequate logistics like helicopters to get people into remote areas, as existing gaps that needed to be filled in the response to Ebola virus.

Ambassador Power was speaking to the media at the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) office in Accra after her visit to the three Ebola affected countries in the West African sub-region.

She expressed satisfaction at the leadership of governments and international community working to bend the curve of Ebola in West Africa.

She said safe burial has increased from 43 to 98 percent in the affected countries, which when sustained could translate into fewer new infections.

She, however, called on other countries to be part of the winning enterprise by supporting with more logistics, personnel and cash.

'There is the need for far more commitments and deliveries of supplies in order to bend the curve,' Ambassador Power said, adding, 'There is the need for more beds, bleach and cash in order to pay people to pick up bodies for burial.'

She also entreated the international community to be responsive to the demands and the specifics on the list of logistics to conquer the Ebola epidemic.

Anthony Banbury, special representative and head of UNMEER, said there is a mixed picture of Ebola in the three affected countries.

He said while there is still a very serious crisis on hand, the close collaboration between national governments, NGOs and UNMEER was beginning to pay off.

Anthony Banbury assured that the Ebola response office is doing everything possible to achieve the results of the objective of getting 70 percent of new cases treated and 70 percent of burial done safely.

'If we can do that, we can curb the crisis,' he said.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri