MONROVIA, November 14 (LINA) – An European Union (EU) Commissioner has called on the global community, including the EU member states, to isolate the Ebola virus instead of the people affected by the disease.
The EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukatis, said isolating people and countries hit by the virus will further exacerbate the situation and therefore urged those involved in such act to desist.
He observed that only cooperation and common action at community, county and country levels can help stamp out the virus and restore hope and confidence in the people.
The EU envoy made the statement at a joint press conference with Liberia's Foreign Minister, Augustine Ngafuan, at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia on Friday.
He lauded the government and people of Liberia for the level of work done in tackling the virus as there are reports of a decline in the number of new cases in the country.
Andriukatis, who is heading a 15-member EU team touring the Ebola-hit countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, cautioned the Liberian Government to get more involved in community-based approach and to improve the country’s public healthcare delivery system.
Speaking earlier, Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan lauded EU for its continuous support to Liberia’s development and recovery processes, noting that the EU has been the biggest provider of budget support to Liberia.
The EU team which arrived Thursday in Liberia from Sierra Leone, departs Friday for Guinea.
LINA