President John Mahama says the deadly Ebola disease which has plagued some West African countries should push African leaders to generate home-grown solutions to solve the continent’s problems.
He said the spread of the virus in the sub-region “must remind us of the fierce urgency to develop regional solutions to our common social problems.”
The Ebola disease has killed over 1,300 people in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Although some affected patients have been healed by the experimental drug called ZMapp, more people continue to die and the number of infected persons continue to rise as well.
The President recalled that ECOWAS heads of states made financial commitments to fight the deadly disease and further commended the international community for their positive response towards the fight against Ebola.
He expressed his appreciation to international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), the World Bank and the African Development Bank (ADB) for their “significant pledges of resources…”
Speaking at a conference of Health Ministers from the sub-region in Accra, President Mahama called on African leaders not to rest until the Ebola disease “is defeated”
He remarked that the outbreak of the disease has stigmatized not only the four affected countries but the continent as a whole.
According to him, the disease is affecting the socio economic development of the continent.
President Mahama mentioned that nations in African which largely depend on tourism are suffering from “cancellations of visits” while economic activities across the sub-region have been affected also.
The ECOWAS chairman acknowledged that the disease which requires full attention and an urgent response.
He promised that ECOWAS “will do everything to defeat the disease.”
On his part, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Ouedraogo called on the International community to make more donations to support the West African sub-region in fighting the Ebola virus.
He appealed to the international community not to “ostracize” West Africans at this trying period.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan