AU calls for comprehensive approach to post-Ebola recovery

The African Union (AU) has called for a comprehensive approach to the post-Ebola recovery efforts to more effectively address the wider social, economic and political consequences of the Ebola outbreak.

The AU Peace and Security Council during its latest meeting has deliberated on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak and post-Ebola recovery efforts in the three most affected countries in West Africa, namely, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The Council welcomed the progress in the fight against the EVD outbreak in the three most affected countries as well as in the post-EVD recovery efforts, said an AU statement on Sunday.

The Council commended the three most affected countries for their resilience and continued efforts to eradicate the EVD and also for the progress made in their post-EVD recovery efforts.

It emphasized that the concerned countries need to remain extra-vigilant and to ensure effective surveillance mechanisms for monitoring cross-border movements of people, until all of the three most affected countries reach a zero-case status, to effectively eradicate the EVD and to prevent its re-spread throughout the region and beyond.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, said the pan-African bloc is focusing on capacity building activities in the most affected countries.

"There is a medium term plan to build capacity, rebuilding health institutions, boosting the health institutions in those countries to make sure that if an epidemic like this happens they should have the capacity to deal with," said the Commissioner.

The AU Peace and Security Council called for support to the most affected countries to strengthen healthcare services , maintenance and provision of basic public services in education and economic stability while enhancing other national capacities.

The Council requested the AU Commission to expedite the establishment and full operationalization of the African Centre for Disease Control.

The Council also requested the AU Commission to urgently establish the African Volunteer Health Corps who will be rapidly deployed during the outbreak of epidemics and to report to the Council on the progress being made.

The Council reiterated the need for continued resource mobilization to assist the most affected countries in their post-Ebola recovery efforts.

It appealed to AU member states and partners to bridge the financial and other resource gaps through direct contributions.

The Council also reiterated its call for debt cancellation in favor of the three most affected countries. Endit