Wealthy Africans raise millions to fight Ebola

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
Wealthy African businessmen have raised $28 million as well as a commitment to send 1 000 health workers to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. So far 5 000 people have died from the virus and the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that if the international world did not step in, the world could see as many as 1.4 million cases by January 2015.
The meeting to raise money took place at the medical Charity Doctors Without Borders who warned that Ebola was still on the rise in Sierra Leone and Guinea while there was a decline in Liberia.
Chairman of telecommunications giant Econet Wireless, Strive Masiyiwa said that many companies had pledged monies to an emergency fund which will be managed by the African Development Bank.
Meanwhile African Union Chairman Dlamini Zuma said there is a long term plan in place to mobilise efforts to limit and contain any future outbreaks.
International campaign group African Governance Initiative (AGI) had recently indicated that the rise in cases in Sierra Leone was alarming since the disease was spreading nine times faster than previously anticipated.
Even as Cuba, the UK, Germany, the US, China and others have committed funds and resources including health care workers and troops to build hospitals, the UN has said that they need help to fight Ebola alongside the WHO which has said that Ebola is “an international disaster”.