The extraordinary meeting of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) heads of state and government is currently in session with a focus on raising aid for the three worst hit countries in the sub-region.
It is also focusing on greater international support and collaboration for the containment of the Ebola outbreak.
The three worst hit countries include Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leon, while Nigeria which was once listed has now been declared Ebola free.
President Goodluck Jonathan is represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Speaking at the opening session of the emergency summit, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and chairman of ECOWAS, said the focus of the meeting is to ensure that the best is made out of the assistance received by assessing what is needed, matching it with what has been offered and identifying the gaps that remain so that they too can be filled in order to bring the epidemic to an end.
He said there was a need to look beyond the statistics and focus on the faces of those who have been affected by Ebola, noting that the image of the documentary after visiting the three worst hit countries had stuck to his mind.
“A child standing alone on the street, alone and hungry with tears in his eyes, the crowd of adults standing at a distance with not a single person making an effort to reach him because of fear and this transformed this child into a social pariah.
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“When we speak of 13,567 reported cases of Ebola, we speak of 13,567 human lives. We speak of the countless other people who may also come in contact with those 13,567 individuals”, he added.
He noted that the effect of Ebola was more far reaching and that when people talk about Ebola they stick with issues that are straight forward and obvious.
“We stick with the more visible ones, hospital beds, gloves, protective gadgets, additional medical personnel, food and cash for the construction of treatment facilities and these are all indeed important and crucial items.
“But the effects of Ebola are far reaching and there are needs that extend beyond the obvious needs that are tangible. These needs we must also strive to address”, he said.
Since the start of the epidemic, Liberia alone has registered over 2,000 orphaned children and the fear of the disease has made them unwanted and adult survivors unable to return to their jobs.
Mahama also noted that the economies of the three countries were all fast crumbling as they have not been able to plant or harvest in their seasons, meaning that the suffering will last long after “and because the economies of all nations in the sub-region are all inter-connected that suffering will resound throughout West Africa to even countries that have not registered even one case”.
He said what is most unfortunate about the three countries that have been hardest hit is that they are countries recovering from the effect of conflict with structures greatly lacking.
“With this in mind, the discussion of aid must include a plan for the future sustainability for these nations, we cannot and must not leave them as the disease found them, to do so will make all our efforts virtually meaningless as it will leave these countries once again vulnerable and defenceless against the threat of any future health crisis.
“The contribution we are making no matter how minor they seem will make a difference. It could symbolise the birth of something new and beautiful”, he added.
Boni Yayi, president of Benin Republic, announced the donation of $1.5 million by ECOWAS as a body to the three countries to aid in the fight of the epidemic.
Mohammed Ibn Chambers, the United Nations’ representative, said there was a need for regional and global response following the far reaching effects of Ebola. He called for decisive action from the international community to the three most affected countries in order to stem the spread of the disease.
He commended countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Burundi, Congo that have made pledges to send medical personnel to the three countries, noting that there are encouraging signs that the epidemic is gradually coming under control.
