Handling skal være baseret på videnskab, ikke panik og myter, siger FN om ebola-udbruddet i Vestafrika. De ramte lande skal have hjælp med at tackle de mange sundhedsmæssige og socioøkonomiske problemer, udbruddet forårsager.
2 September 2014 (UN News): Misinformation about Ebola can only exacerbate an already fragile situation, said United Nations officials at the highest level today, urging international action and solidarity to help West African countries deal with the myriad health and socioeconomic impacts of current outbreak of the deadly virus.
“The fear factor plays a strong role in the crisis. I encourage the Member States and businesses and individuals as well, to take decisions based on scientific evidence, not on fear,” urged UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, as he opened a high-level briefing for Member States at UN Headquarters in New York on the Organization’s response to the unprecedented outbreak.
The latest number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases in affected countries Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, stands at 3,069, with over 1,552 deaths, making this the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
An unprecedented number of health care workers have also been infected and died due to this outbreak.
More than a health crisis
Joining the Deputy Secretary-General were other senior UN officials including Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. David Nabarro, the Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Ebola, Anthony Lake, Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.
“The outbreak is more than a health crisis,” said Mr. Eliasson, explain that the health systems in the affected countries are overwhelmed by the magnitude and complexity of the problem.
These countries are finding it extremely difficult to cope, and as such, the international community must step up its efforts and help boost the capacity of the affected countries and their health systems.
“As far as the UN is concerned, this is one of the most serious health challenges we have ever faced. The reality on the ground is no different from those caused by natural calamities and conflicts of great magnitude – and in some ways even more difficult with dire consequences in several other areas of society,” Mr. Eliasson said.
Effective strategies needed
There have been strong responses by Governments, multilateral and regional organisations, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and other partners.
At the country level, an enormous amount of work is already being done by the UN Missions, peacekeeping operations and UN Country Teams.
Mr. Eliasson went on to say that the Secretary-General has established a United Nations System Ebola Virus Disease coordination mechanism to be guided by leadership provided by WHO and Dr. Nabarro, who just returned from visiting affected countries in West Africa.
“But we cannot do it alone. We need effective strategies, partnerships, and capacities. There cannot be any weak links in this operational chain. We also need to think in unconventional terms and demonstrate speed and flexibility in defining and executing our strategies,” Mr. Eliasson said.
Explaining that the UN is faced with severe strains on its own staff working in such difficult conditions, he said:
“We may need to involve Member States in this coordination task. I recall the Tsunami in Southeast Asia and the Haiti earthquake when we had a more active role of Member States in those operations.”
Ebola affecting food security
Meanwhile, on the ground, disruptions in food trade in the three West African countries most affected by Ebola have made food increasingly expensive and hard to come by, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today.
“Access to food has become a pressing concern for many people in the three affected countries and their neighbours,” said Bukar Tijani, FAO Regional Representative for Africa in a statement to the press.
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