UNDP Chief to visit Ebola epicenter countries

The Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Helen Clark, will visit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the three countries most affected by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) from Feb.11-18.

The visit is to affirm the UN's continued commitment to addressing the ongoing crisis and support for the recovery process, a statement issued by Bossman Owusu, Communications Officer of the UNDP Ghana Office said.

In response to the governments' expressed need to begin laying the foundations for recovery alongside the ongoing response to the disease, the UN Secretary-General has tasked the UNDP with leading the UN system on Ebola-related recovery.

"UNDP is working with the national authorities and local, regional and international partners, including the African Development Bank, the European Union and the World Bank, on an Ebola Recovery Assessment, and in support of national EVD recovery strategies," the release said.

As part of the overall response, UNDP's recovery programs are focused on four pillars - economic opportunities and jobs; recovery of the health sector; resilient governance for recovery, peace and stability; and risk management to deal with any future outbreaks.

Clark is scheduled to hold press conferences in Conakry on February 13, in Monrovia on February 16, and in Freetown on February 17. Endi