MONROVIA, October 7 (LINA) – Foreign Ministers from G-7 countries and the High Representative of the European Union have warned countries around the world against isolating Ebola-affected countries.
They underscored that the provision of assistance depends on unhindered access to the countries concerned, and as such G7 countries are collaborating with the United Nations to encourage and maintain air and maritime links with affected countries.
The G7 called on other countries to follow this practice in order to facilitate and streamline the transportation of essential goods and equipment as they will support the establishment of regional transportation hubs.
Their statement was contained in a communication addressed at a G-7 Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York recently.
They urged the international community to bring high-quality medical care to Ebola patients, including healthcare workers and accelerate development and testing of vaccines and therapies.
The G-7 Foreign Ministers observed that there is a need to enhance the ability of affected countries to fight the disease themselves through the provision of medical care and equipment, training of medical personal as well as to rebuild their health services.
According to them, they acknowledge the important role being played by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in the fight against Ebola and called on all countries to maintain their level of support to the mission.
They also applauded assistance from World Bank, the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Union (EU), non-governmental organizations and private companies, and urged them to increase their support.
The Foreign Ministers also commended international health care workers working in affected countries for their selfless commitment and brave services which puts their lives at risk and promised to provide the best possible care for them in the event they contract the virus.
They stressed that though the Ebola crisis requires an urgent response to control the spread of the virus, they also called for a long term approach that extends beyond the immediate containment of the disease.
“We express our readiness to assist the affected countries in their fight against Ebola as well as their efforts to cope with Ebola-induced challenges such as shortages in the provision of non-Ebola basic healthcare, food and budgetary constraints and pledged to coordinate capabilities and resources to help to ensure appropriate treatment locally.
According to them, they will also organize an airborne medical evacuation and hospitalization of infected international health care workers considering an account of the EU initiative in this field.
The Foreign Ministers thanked the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO) for their role in launching the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) and emphasized their willingness to provide relief to countries ravaged by the virus, stressing, “Our understanding is that Ebola is a common global threat to peace and security.”
According to them, while the world is responding to the immediate Ebola epidemic, it must also act to establish capacity around the world to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to disease threats like Ebola.
The G7 countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
LINA PSN/TSSJKW/