Funding commitments to contain the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in Africa have nearly halved since Monday, the continent’s main health body said on Thursday.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.
In the DRC, there have been 1,077 suspected cases and 246 suspected deaths, according to the latest data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The data also shows that the number of confirmed cases in Uganda has risen to eight, up from seven previously.
Director-General Jean Kaseya said in a virtual press conference that Africa CDC partners had pledged almost $500 million on Monday to support the response to the outbreak.
Since then, the figure has dropped to around $290 million after several donors withdrew their commitments, he said, without naming them.
“People are dying! How can we say: we commit X million dollars, and the next day they call me to say it was a mistake?” Kaseya said.
“We know some major global health institutions are sitting on billions of dollars… How can you say: I want you to focus on this development program, and I have money for that, but I don’t have money for Ebola?”
While speaking to reporters, Kaseya also praised the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for agreeing to reallocate funds to support the response.
Health authorities are racing to contain the fast-spreading outbreak across the African continent but often face challenges such as shortages of basic supplies and mistrust in communities affected by previous outbreaks.
The outbreak has prompted governments to tighten border control measures. The United States imposed temporary travel restrictions on people who have been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days, including permanent residents.
Kaseya said he did not understand why South Sudan, a country with no Ebola cases or deaths, was included in the travel restrictions.
“We cannot contain this outbreak without resources… and more importantly, we cannot contain this outbreak with travel restrictions imposed by Western countries on African countries.”
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects.
Source: Reuters
