MONROVIA, February 16 (LINA) - Mano River Union (MRU) Heads of State have committed themselves to achieving “Zero Ebola Infection” within the next 60 days beginning Sunday, February 15.
However, they appealed to the International Community to provide the necessary support to achieve this objective.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the commitment was contained in a Declaration of MRU Heads of State on the Eradication of Ebola and Post-Ebola Socio-Economic Recovery at an Extraordinary Summit held in Conakry, Guinea on Sunday.
The meeting was intended to adopt common strategies to end the Ebola virus disease epidemic in the sub-region, and address the post-Ebola socio-economic development recovery needs.
The Summit brought together host President Alpha Condé of Guinea, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Representative of President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Charles Koffi Diby.
They approved the strategy for reaching and sustaining “Zero Ebola Infection” in the sub-region with special emphasis on infection prevention control, social mobilization, community engagement, surveillance, cross border collaboration, instituting robust and sustainable social protection programs, providing mental and psychosocial support and ensuring coordination.
The MRU Heads of State recognized that to get to and stay at zero will depend on their collective political will to provide the enabling environment to translate intervention strategies into action.
They advocated that international partners should plan and manage their exits responsibly dictated by the epidemiology while ensuring that capacity is transferred adequately to national institutions.
LINA