Addis Ababa, 24 July 2019: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) will be convening a Forum of the Africa against Ebola Solidarity Trust Fund (AAESTF), African private sector and International partners, during the first week of September 2019.
The aim of this Forum is to mobilise adequate resources to respond to the on-going Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was declared by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2019 as a public health emergency of international concern on July 17th 2019.
Since the outbreak, the AU has taken a number of steps, through the Africa Centres for Disease,
Prevention and Control (Africa CDC) to support DRC in the fight against the epidemic, including the deployment of heath volunteers and financial contribution.
Given the seriousness of health, economic and security threat that the on-going EVD emergency poses to the continent, the African Union Peace and Security Council met on 23 July 2019 and requested the AU Commission to mobilize all resources to ensure an adequate response.
It should be recalled that in 2014, the AU Commission mobilization of African private sector, and partners was instrumental in bringing to an end the EVD in West Africa. This showed the importance of strong African solidarity during times of crisis in the continent.
About the Africa CDC
The Africa CDC mission is to strengthen Africa’s public health institution’s capacities, capabilities and partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks based on science, policy, and data-driven interventions and programmes.
Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org
About the African Union
The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.
Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/