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African Union mourns former Ebola mission chief for West Africa

Xinhua, November 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

The African Union (AU) mourned on Monday Major-General Dr. Julius Facki Oketta, former Head of Mission to the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak to West Africa (ASEOWA).

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, has expressed deep sadness over the passing of the former head of ASEOWA, said a statement from AU on Monday.

He died on Saturday at the age of 60 in Kampala, Uganda, following a heart attack, said the statement.

Dlamini-Zuma has sent her deepest condolences to the bereaved family, as well as to the government and people of Uganda.

"Major-General Dr. Julius Oketta was a champion in the fight against Ebola Virus Disease, when it struck Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in 2014," she said.

"He headed the ASEOWA mission with the 855 civilian and military Health Volunteers who soldiered the fight against Ebola. As a disciplined soldier, he led the successful defeat of Ebola, without us losing a single soldier," said Dlamini-Zuma.

On February 11, 2015, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia had also recognized his contribution to the fight against Ebola, and awarded him the Decoration of "Distinguished Service Order" during the 58th Armed Forces Day Celebration in Liberia, recalled the statement. Endit