MONROVIA, October 15 (LINA) – Norway has released US$60 million for West Africa since the Ebola outbreak started and an additional US$15 million through the World Health Organization (WHO) for affected countries.

Making the disclosure, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende also announced that 160 doctors from his country have already signed up to be deployed to West Africa, including Liberia.

Brende further said Norway will provide military transportation in the form of logistical support to Liberia as part of its efforts aimed at eradicating the epidemic, according to an Executive Mansion release.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister said his Government saw it as a responsibility to reach out to Liberia due to the long standing relationship between the two countries, especially with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, at the helm. The Nobel Prize is awarded by Norway.

Responding, President Sirleaf reiterated that the intervention by the Norwegian Government demonstrates the level of “strong bilateral relationship” which has helped Liberia get back on track since her ascendancy, which is now being threatened by the Ebola outbreak.

The Liberian leader said her Government is pleased with the partnership with the Norwegian Government and expressed optimism that the relationship would go a long way in rebuilding Liberia’s health care sector that has been overly stretched by the Ebola epidemic.
LINA GDJ/PTK/JKW