Category: APO-OPA

JUBA, South Sudan, September 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations are launching the planning for the 2015 aid operation in South Sudan at the beginning of October. The planning is to take place in close collaboration with South Sudanese people and institutions and authorities at the local, state and national levels in order to help inform the aid community’s response to the ongoing crisis.

“South Sudan is home to one of the world’s largest aid operations, and the enormous needs we are seeing today are likely to persist into 2015,” said Toby Lanzer, the Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan. “We look forward to working closely with national and local authorities, civil society organizations and conflict-affected men, women and children of South Sudan to make sure that the aid operation is tailored to meet the most acute needs on the ground.”

Nine months into the conflict, close to 1.8 million people have been uprooted from their homes, including over 450,000 people who have fled to neighbouring countries. 2.5 million people are projected to be severely food insecure between January and March 2015, and malnutrition threatens the lives of tens of thousands of children. So far this year, aid agencies have reached over 3 million people, many in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

“To get the response right in a crisis of this magnitude, consultation is key,” continued Mr. Lanzer. “The people of South Sudan know best what they need to get through this crisis, and we will reach out and do all we can to make sure that their perspectives are included in every stage of the planning for our work next year.”

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Alain Nteff (Cameroon), founder of Gifted Mom was announced as the grand prize winner of the 4th annual Anzisha Prize Award (http://www.anzishaprize.org), receiving a $25,000 cash prize to support his social business. He leads a rising tide of West African youth entrepreneurs.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/anzisha.jpg

Photos: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?searchterms=AnzishaPrize2014&level=search

Schoolbag manufacturer Thato Kgatlhanye (South Africa) was first runner up, with second runner up going to 17-year-old farmer Gabriel Kombassere (Ivory Coast). They received cash prizes of $15,000 and $12,500 respectively to catalyze their venture growth.

18-year-old Tom Osborn from Kenya received a special $10,000 energy prize award from Donors Circle for Africa, for his eco-fuel venture, Greenchar. This year’s awards were judged by respected entrepreneurs Wendy Luhabe (South Africa), Khanyi Dhlomo (South Africa), Willy Mukiny Yav (DRC), Wanjiru Waithaka (Kenya) and Mohamed Nanabhay (South Africa).

The 2014 Anzisha Finalists were honored at a prestigious ceremony last night at the Focus Rooms in Sunninghill, Johannesburg. The keynote speaker was Divine Ndhlukula, founder and Managing Director of Securico, one of Zimbabwe’s largest security companies.

Nteff Alain (22) founded the Gifted Mom project, an e-content platform for pregnant women in underserved areas, to help them have safe pregnancies and combat the lack of access and knowledge that has led to high mother and infant deaths in Cameroon. Gifted Mom works with health providers and medical students to create profiles for pregnant women to send automated alerts that help them track antenatal care. Since starting his project, more than 200 medical students have been trained, 1200 pregnant women impacted resulting in a 20% increase in antenatal attendance rate for pregnant women in 15 rural communities.

Thato Kgathlanye (21) co-founded Repurpose Schoolbags that designs schoolbags made from up-cycled plastic shopping bags integrated with solar technology. Mini solar panels are encased in the bags, charging up during the day and transforming into light for learners to study after dark. She runs a factory in Rustenburg, South Africa where she employs eight women, has impacted the lives of over 120 children and taken major strides in reducing her carbon footprint through recycling over 10,000 plastic bags.

Gabriel Kombassere (17) founded Ribla Neda, an association seeking to eradicate starvation in his region. His principle is “We may be students but we can help our parents.” Having grown up farming from the age of eight, he invested in what came naturally by asking his uncle for a piece of land and started to grow maize and cassava. He employees four students and has 30 members in his organisation. Annually, he produces over 20 bags of maize and a cargo of cassava.

Tom Osborn (18) is founder of Greenchar, a clean energy project that produces charcoal briquettes and distributes clean cook-stoves throughout Kenya. It was started to fight deforestation and the health problems that result from smoke inhalation from charcoal. Greenchar coals are carbonized, producing long-lasting, high-energy and smokeless coals, made from revitalized agricultural forests. Tom was recently named an Echoing Green fellow.

“Every year it gets harder to choose a winner,” commented Josh Adler, Director for the Centre of Entrepreneurship at African Leadership Academy. “All of our finalists this year are shining examples of youth entrepreneurship – examples we hope will inspire teenagers across the continent to start and grow similar ventures.”

Koffi Assouan, Program Manager, Economic Opportunities for Youth, The MasterCard Foundation, added, “We are thrilled once again to be part of this wonderful program and wish the grand prize winners every success as they invest the prize money to grow their businesses.”

The Anzisha Prize received 339 applications this year from 32 countries for Africa’s premier youth entrepreneurship award.

Now in its fourth year, the Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and The MasterCard Foundation. 12 finalists were flown to Johannesburg, South Africa for the 2014 Anzisha Week that took place from 18 – 25 September where a panel of judges from across the entrepreneurial sphere convened to select the grand prize winners. They received training from African Leadership Academy’s renowned Entrepreneurial Leadership faculty and engaged with industry leaders, mentors and engaged with change agents from across the continent.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the Anzisha Prize.

Media contact:

Lydia Byarugaba – lbyarugaba@africanleadershipacademy.org or +27 84 375 1222

Should you write an article using this press release, Anzisha Prize would like to link to the article on its website. Please email any articles to lbyarugaba@africanleadershipacademy.org

For more information on the Anzisha Prize and the campaign, go to:

➢ Website: www.anzishaprize.org

➢ Facebook: www.facebook.com/anzishaprize

➢ Twitter: @anzishaprize

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Anzisha Prize

The Anzisha Prize (http://www.anzishaprize.org) is managed out of African Leadership Academy’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which was established through a multi-year partnership with The MasterCard Foundation. Through the Anzisha Prize, the organisers seek to catalyse innovation and entrepreneurship among youth across the continent.

About African Leadership Academy

African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of entrepreneurial leaders who will work together to achieve extraordinary social impact. Each year, ALA brings together the most promising young leaders from all 54 African nations for a pre-university program in South Africa with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and African studies. ALA continues to cultivate these leaders throughout their lives, in university and beyond, by providing on-going leadership and entrepreneurial training and connecting them to high-impact networks of people and capital that can catalyse large-scale change. For more information, visit http://africanleadershipacademy.org.

About The MasterCard Foundation

The MasterCard Foundation is an independent, global organization based in Toronto, Canada, with more than $9 billion in assets. Through collaboration with partner organizations in 49 countries, it is creating opportunities for all people to learn and prosper. The Foundation’s programs promote financial inclusion and advance youth learning, mostly in Africa. Established in 2006 through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide when it became a public company, the Foundation is a separate and independent entity. The policies, operations and funding decisions of the Foundation are determined by its own Board of Directors and President and CEO. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org.

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — To coincide with the return to school, and as part of the #Tousalecole (Back to School) campaign, Jumia Ivory Coast (https://www.jumia.ci) has offered 1,000 school kits to primary school pupils in Yopougon Kouté in a ceremony attended by members of the National Ministry for Education and Technical Education (http://www.education-ci.org).

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/jumia.png

Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1381 (Fatoumata Ba, Managing Director of JUMIA Côte d’Ivoire)

Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1384 (Pupils having received their school kit)

Photo 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1383 (The pupils from Yopougon Kouton all reunited)

Photo 4: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1382 (A pupil from primary school)

“Society gives us a lot. Today is our chance to give something back to society and to make our contribution” said Fatoumata Ba, CEO of Jumia Ivory Coast, adding that the organisation believes in education as “the cornerstone of the future”.

She asked pupils to “make good use” of these gifts, before giving them out in the presence of Inspector for Preschool and Primary Education in Yopougon Kouté and Mme Grah, the Secretary General for the Abidjan 3 Regional Department of National Education and Technical Education, who was attending on behalf of the Minister of Education Kandia Camara.

Each student from the school group, which ranged from years CP1 to CM2 (aged 6-11), received a kit comprising a backpack containing plastic wallets, exercise books, a pencil and an eraser, as well as a slate and chalk for years CP1 and CP2.

Kouté’s village chief Agbassi Aimé expressed gratitude to the company, describing the event as “historic” in his speech. “This is the first time that our school has received school kits, and we thank the donors for their support of our children’s schooling. This is proof that Yopougon-Kouté has not been forgotten,” he said.

On behalf of the National Ministry of Education, Mme Grah praised “this gesture which supports the action of the government” and called for other businesses to follow Jumia’s lead. “Normally, it is the government who provides these school kits. With this donation today, we feel that the situation is changing and moving in a positive direction. Thank you for what are doing, because you are contributing to the development of the Ivory Coast. I invite the leaders of private businesses to do the same in order to support parents, especially those whose incomes are limited,” she stated.

This ceremony for the donation of school kits marks the launch of a series of social initiatives, with a particular focus on schools in the most disadvantaged areas of Abidjan. The money for the #Tousalecole campaign comes from purchases made online on the website https://www.jumia.ci.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Jumia.

Contact Us

SHERYN TOIFL

PR & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER—JUMIA COTE D’IVOIRE

Email : sheryn.toifl@jumia.ci

Mobile : +22546750604

About JUMIA

JUMIA (https://www.jumia.ci) is Africa’s leading online shopping destination. Customers across the continent can shop amongst the widest assortment of high quality products at affordable prices – offering everything from fashion, consumer electronics, home appliances to beauty products. Jumia was the first African company to win an award at the World Retail Awards 2013 in Paris as the “Best New Retail Launch” of the year.

About AIH

Africa Internet Holding (http://africainternetgroup.com) introduces and accelerates the online shift in Africa – for its people and its culture. It is committed to running successful and vibrant internet companies which boost the evolution of African online culture. AIH is the parent group of nine successful and fast-growing companies in more than 25 African countries, accounting for over 3000 staff. AIH cares about entrepreneurship and brings together all the key elements required to build great companies: team, concept, technology and capital. Its network of companies includes JUMIA, Kaymu, Hellofood, Lamudi, Carmudi, Zando, Jovago, Lendico and Easy Taxi.

VATICAN, Holy See, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The tragedy of the Ebola outbreak and the healthcare apostolate, the need for testimony of integrity in the face of corruption, and ecumenical cooperation were the main themes of the written discourse the Holy Father handed to the bishops of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference yesterday afternoon, at the end of their five-yearly “ad Limina” visit.

In the document, the Pope comments that “The 2009 Synod on Africa noted as a principal concern the need for the Church’s pastors to ‘inspire in Christ’s disciples in Africa the will to become effectively committed to living out the Gospel in their daily lives and in society … and to obery Christ who calls constantly for metanoia, for conversion’”.

In this regard, he notes that “The work of conversion and evangelisation is not easy, but it bears precious fruit for the Church and the world. Out of the spiritual vitality of all the faithful come the Church’s numerous charitable, medical and educational endeavours, and her works of justice and equality. The varied services, carried out in God’s name, especially for the poor and weak, are the responsibility of the entire local Church, under the prayerful oversight of the bishop. I think in a particular way about the importance of the Church’s healthcare apostolate, not only in Ghana, but throughout western Africa, which is suffering at this time from the outbreak of Ebola. I pray for the repose of the souls of all who have died in this epidemic, among whom are priests, men and women religious and healthcare workers who contracted this terrible disease while caring for those suffering. May God strengthen all healthcare workers there and bring an end to this tragedy”.

He continues, “The Church in Ghana is justly respected for the contribution she makes to the integral development of individuals and the entire nation. At the same time, she often finds herself lacking in the material resources necessary to fulfil her mission in the world. In this regard, I would offer you two thoughts. First, it is imperative that whatever temporal means the Church has at her disposal continue to be administered with honesty and responsibility, in order to provide good witness, especially where corruption has hindered the just advancement of society. … Second, material poverty can be an occasion to draw greater attention to the spiritual needs of the human person, thus leading to a deeper reliance on the Lord, from whom all good things come. While your communities rightly make many efforts to alleviate extremes of poverty, so too the Church is called, in imitation of Christ, to work with humility and honesty, using the goods at her disposal to open minds and hearts to the riches of mercy and grace flowing from the heart of Christ”.

Finally, the Pope advises the bishops, “Be close to other Christian leaders and the heads of other religious communities. Ecumenical and interreligious cooperation, when carried out with respect and an open heart, contribute to the social harmony of your country, and enable growth in understanding of the dignity of each person and a greater experience of our common humanity. Thankfully, Ghana has been spared many of the tribal, ethnic and religious divisions that have afflicted too many other parts of Africa, a continent whose promise, in part due to these divisions, has yet to be fulfilled. I pray that you will be ever greater promoters of unity and leaders in the service of dialogue. May you be firm in upholding the Church’s teaching and discipline, and unyielding in your charity. And may your generosity in offering Christ be matched only by your humble and patient openness to others”.

VATICAN, Holy See, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — At the end of today’s general audience, the Holy Father greeted the faithful in various languages, as usual. Before the greetings in Italian, he launched an appeal for the countries in Africa that suffer as a result of the Ebola epidemic. Pope Francis assured his closeness to the many people affected by this virus and invited the faithful to pray for them and for those who have tragically lost their lives. “I hope that there will be no shortage of necessary help from the international community to alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters”.

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The European Commission is continuing its active participation in the efforts to contain the outbreak of Ebola which has already claimed 2811 lives in Guinea, Liberia, Siera Leone and Nigeria. Two high-level officials from the Commission have visited Sierra Leone (Freetown) and Liberia (Monrovia) last week to discuss the coordinated response to the epidemic and to confirm continued European Union support to the affected countries.

Marcus Cornaro, Deputy Director General of the Commission’s Directorate General for Development and Cooperation (EuropeAid) and Philippe Maughan, Head of Sector for Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean at the Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response (ECHO) met with President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. They also held meetings with the national authorities (including the Minister of Health and Finance) and international organisations operating on the ground in response to the emergency. They also had exchanges with representatives of the US Army and the African Union who had just arrived to set up their respective missions.

On his return, Marcus Cornaro said: “The situation in the two countries is extremely serious and the international community must increase its support to fight the epidemic. In my meetings I confirmed that the EU has put a comprehensive range of support measures in place. We are determined to help the countries and the many victims with immediate support through humanitarian aid, but will also give development assistance to the region to strengthen health systems, as well as budget support to Sierra Leone and Liberia to cushion the severe macroeconomic impact of the crisis.”

Philippe Maughan added: “As a medical doctor and emergency healthcare expert, I commend the healthcare professionals working around the clock to contain the spread of the disease, often at risk for their own lives. The capacity of first responders is stretched. The surge of the international response in recent weeks is welcome, but it urgently needs to be translated to concrete action on the ground”.

NEW YORK, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With demand for food set to increase 60 per cent by 2050, world leaders, major corporations and civil society at the United Nations Climate Summit today pledged commitments to transform agricultural practices by increasing productivity while reducing carbon emissions.

“I am glad to see action that will increase agricultural productivity, build resilience for farmers and reduce carbon emissions,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as he opened the meeting. “These efforts will improve food and nutrition security for billions of people.”

Nine billion people are expected to be living on the planet in 25 years and food production will need to spike in order to feed them.

Today, at the biggest climate conference in history, more than 20 Governments, and 30 organizations and companies announced they would join the newly launched Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture, which aims to enable 500 million farmers worldwide to practice climate-smart agriculture.

The countries joining represent millions of farmers, a quarter of the world cereal production, 43 million undernourished people and 16 per cent of total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Civil society organizations also committed to take action on the ground that “protect the poorest and most vulnerable farmers from climate change,” according to a joint statement released today.

While farmers, fishers, and foresters have already adapted to climate change through indigenous and scientific knowledge, they need investment and policy changes to better manage risk, forecast weather and better use natural resources.

The Global Alliance strives to achieve increases in agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes while simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ensuring people have access to quality food and nutrition is also a priority.

On a regional level, the Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance- set up by the African Union- brings governments and civil society together to help about 25 million farming households across the continent practice climate-savvy agriculture by 2025.

“Africa is leading by example, and the Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance will help ensure that the agriculture sector can continue to be an engine of economic growth and social development for all our people, even in the face of climate change,” said Nkosana Dlamini-Zuma, Chair of the African Union Commission in a statement.

A similar initiative in North-American will be launched in 2015 to help farmers adapt and improve resilience to climate change.

Major corporations are committing to the cause as well. Walmart, McDonald’s and the Kellogg Company have committed to increase the amount of food in their supply chains that are produced with climate-smart approaches – an important step to curb carbon emissions.

Walmart, the world’s largest grocery store, sells 70 million tonnes of food annually. McDonald’s buys two per cent of the world’s beef, a major source of agricultural greenhouse gas production.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank also announced today that 100 per cent of their agricultural investment portfolios – about $11 billion – would be climate-smart by 2018.

And the World Food Programme (WFP) expanded its R4 Rural Resilience Initiative to empower food insecure rural households in Malawi and Zambia.

These pledges come on the heels of the Secretary-General’s plea to keep global temperature increases to less than two degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, moving money, pricing pollution, and strengthening resilience.

Agriculture is just one of eight action areas identified as critical during the Abu Dhabi Ascent, a two-day meeting held in the United Arab Emirates in May 2014. Others include sustainable urban public transport and investment in renewable energy.

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following the United Nation Security Council’s acknowledgement that the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa poses a clear threat to global security, Elhadj As Sy, the Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), will address the UN’s General Assembly in New York to emphasize the need to provide long-term support to governments, communities and organizations on the front line responding to the disease.

“As current trends indicate an exponential increase of Ebola cases, we urge the international community to immediately deploy the resources – including financial, material and personnel – needed to effectively respond to the crisis at a scale which reflects the magnitude of the challenges we face,” he said.

Last week the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for countries to provide urgent assistance, including the deployment of medical facilities and staff, as part of an expanded response. It also recognized the work of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and IFRC, which have both been providing early, life-saving support in affected countries.

Mr Sy said: “We will stay focused on its mission and will provide support to affected communities, before, during and after an outbreak. We will continue to invest in, support and rotate our staff and volunteers who have been working tirelessly over the past months, despite the overwhelming physical and emotional stress the work entails. Their remarkable work on community mobilization, care and support, as well as safe and dignified burials are critical in the epidemic control chain is made possible through a unique connection to communities.”

Since the beginning of the outbreak in March, the Red Cross has expanded its response and preparedness activities across 14 countries with programmes totalling 34.7 million Swiss francs which will reach over 38 million people. Operations managed or supported by the Red Cross include dead body management, medical support, psychosocial services, contact tracing and education on preparedness and infection reduction. 133 international staff and more than 4,000 volunteers from national Red Cross societies have been working within communities to help reduce the spread and impact of the disease.

Response teams are active in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, while preparedness activities are taking place in 10 other countries in the region.

The IFRC Ebola treatment centre in Kenema is complementing the heroic efforts of the Ministry of Health and other partners, such as MSF, but its capacity is already being stretched. Tiina Saarikoski, manager of the IFRC Ebola treatment centre is calling for more resources to cope with the increase case load. “Without more health care professionals on the ground, we cannot reach those who need our help. This could have a significant impact on the spread of the disease, as infected patients would remain in contact with family and friends and this will fuel the spread of the virus. Early access to health facilities and treatments are key to maximizing the chances of survival,” she said.

Alasan Senghore, IFRC Director for Africa, said that partnership was key and more resources and stronger partnerships are needed to respond effectively. “No one actor can do it alone. We must all work together to achieve this ambitious goal,” he said.

BERN, Switzerland, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Switzerland is making an additional CHF 5 million available to support efforts to prevent the further spread of the Ebola epidemic and provide the people living in affected countries with the assistance they need. This announcement was made by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, in New York in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. The contribution is intended to support Switzerland’s multilateral partner organisations in the field of humanitarian aid in their activities in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, as well as its bilateral aid projects in Liberia.

In view of the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic and its continued spread in several West African countries, Switzerland has made a further CHF 5 million available for measures to contain the epidemic. This brings Switzerland’s total support to CHF 9 million.

At the beginning of September, Swiss Humanitarian Aid together with the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) carried out a mission to Liberia to determine the areas on which the Swiss intervention should focus. It was decided to concentrate on the following three areas:

1. Containing the epidemic (treatment and prevention)

2. Strengthening the health-care system

3. Reducing the negative secondary effects (e.g. loss of food security)

Switzerland’s contribution at the multilateral level includes support for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, which ensures that air transport is available for the aid needed in the three affected countries. Switzerland also supports the regional emergency aid programme of the World Food Programme in order to maintain the supply of food to the most vulnerable population groups in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

At the bilateral level, Switzerland is supporting the activities of Médecins sans frontières Switzerland in the north of Liberia. In addition, on 9 September 2014, a shipment of 14 tonnes of aid supplies from Zurich arrived in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. In addition, Switzerland supports the preventive measures of the governments of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Benin, which are exposed to the risk of Ebola.

Switzerland is also contributing to the HUG’s efforts to fight the Ebola crisis, in particular a feasibility study on a prevention programme in Liberia. The HUG is also working together with the University Hospital of Lausanne on, among other things, the development of two Ebola vaccines. Clinical studies are to be carried out at both hospitals – in coordination with the World Health Organisation and other research institutes abroad – in which the two vaccines will be used on humans for the first time.

LONDON, United-Kingdom, September 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — British military and humanitarian staff have arrived in Freetown to spearhead the UK’s £100 million mission to contain and control the outbreak.

More than 40 military personnel and humanitarian staff have arrived to oversee the construction of the UK’s medical facility and assist with the UK’s response.

The latest update follows a meeting of the UK’s emergency committee COBR this afternoon. Chaired by the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond from New York, the meeting reviewed progress on the UK’s commitment to boost significantly public health provision across Sierra Leone, including support for 700 Ebola treatment beds.

The UK will publish an action plan setting out how it will work alongside the United Nations and Sierra Leone, to mobilise international medical teams and support further treatment centres.

The International Development Secretary Justine Greening, who also joined the meeting in New York, called on world leaders at the UN to back UK and international efforts to respond to the worsening crisis in west Africa – which has become one the world’s most extreme global emergencies.

Speaking after the meeting, held via video conference to London, the Foreign Secretary said:

“The Ebola outbreak has already been a significant feature in my discussions in New York. It is now vital that the international community translates its concern into action. This outbreak has wide-ranging humanitarian and security consequences for the region, and the world. Defeating this disease will need a global coalition, as well as innovative approaches to reducing the spread of the virus in communities. That is why combating Ebola through UK and international efforts is one the government’s top priorities.”

“We will be hosting an international conference in London on 2 October to raise even greater awareness of the disease and what is needed to contain it , encourage ambitious pledges and show our solidarity with the Government and People of Sierra Leone and the region.”

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

“The outbreak in West Africa is extremely serious and worsening every day. Sierra Leone requires an urgent and dramatic increase in public health teams and specialist treatment centres to halt the spread of the disease. Britain’s plan will triple bed provision in the country, but we cannot do this alone. Sierra Leone needs urgent offers of support from foreign medical teams and international donors.”

The UK’s plan follows its commitment to support 700 Ebola treatment beds across Sierra Leone. This will increase the number of available beds to more than 1,000 over the coming months. The UK has committed £100 million to deliver this plan.

The British Government is leading the international response to the disease in Sierra Leone by:

Supporting 700 treatment beds

Using British expertise and local building contractors, we will establish the physical infrastructure for a total of 700 beds. The UK will build at least four new Ebola Treatment Facilities near urban centres including Port Loko, Freetown, Makeni, and Bo.

A team of over 40 military personnel, including logisticians, planners and engineers, are currently on the ground in Sierra Leone to oversee the construction of the UK’s facility near Freetown and recce or develop sites for new facilities.

205 beds in Freetown and Kenema are already in the delivery pipeline. Following a further assessment, the Department for International Development and Save the Children have confirmed that they will be able to run an additional 30 beds at the UK’s treatment centre near Freetown, taking the total number of beds at this location from 62 to 92.

Deploying medical experts

164 NHS staff have already volunteered to travel to west Africa and help those affected by Ebola.

Public Health England has deployed 10 of experts including epidemiologists and microbiologists to provide expert advice to the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health on managing the outbreak. They have also been working hard to ensure UK border staff, medical practitioners, humanitarian workers, travellers, the West African community in England and the general public have the right information about Ebola, updated on a day by day basis.

Command and control

The UK will set up a forward command and control logistical hub that will provide the backbone of infrastructure, commodities, training and management needed to scale up the response in Sierra Leone. The hub will be staffed by a large multi-agency team including military, humanitarian and health experts. It will work closely with international partners and with the Government of Sierra Leone.

Leading the international response

The UK and Sierra Leonean governments will hold an international conference in London on 2 October 2014 to discuss how the global community can rally to provide an effective international response.

In addition to supporting 700 beds, the UK is already providing:

• Training for 90 health care workers every week in Freetown in the recently created World Health Organisation training centre.

• a Ebola Command Centre in Freetown. Working with International Rescue Committee and the Sierra Leonean Government, the centre is managing the deployment of ambulance services and treatment centres. It will also ensure timely laboratory sample collection and distribution of results, co-ordinate burial teams, medical supplies and deliveries to isolation units.

• £5 million for agencies like the WHO, Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières‎ to provide public health information, monitoring and tracing of new cases; funding for clinicians and other experts; counselling and support for children orphaned by Ebola; medical supplies; and safe burial of victims.