Envoy Foh advocates for MRU countries, calls on China to continue with lead role in Ebola fight
Sierra Leone’s envoy to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Victor Bockarie Foh has called on the International Community to do more in tackling the Ebola Virus Disease ravaging the Mano River Union countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, whilst thanking China for their lead role so far since the outbreak of the Ebola Virus early this year.
Ambassador Foh’s call for more action by the International Community came in a desperate attempt to arouse greater awareness about this pandemic notwithstanding great efforts by the People’s Republic of China to develop vaccine for treatment of Ebola coupled with tremendous support so far given by them to all affected countries in West Africa but more especially, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Foh was speaking at a briefing session, hosted by the Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Zhang Ming, on Friday 26th September, for all Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations in Beijing, on P.R.China’s responses and assistance to the affected West African Countries in the fight against the Ebola.
Speaking on behalf of MRU countries, Ambassador Foh said, the Governments of the three most affected nations, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, are doing all they could to handle the menace. However, “we want to see more by way of robust interventions by the entire International Community”, he said.
According to Ambassador Foh, Ebola “is a catastrophe worse than terrorism”, whilst suggesting that China must take the lead to rally international support to fight Ebola.”Sierra Leone and her sister countries, Guinea and Liberia, could have been worse. We appreciate the efforts of the International community but we want to see more. We need more logistical support, more appropriate and timely responses such as Ebola customized ambulances, nurses, doctors, food, etc.”
He outlined measures that the Government of Sierra Leone has taken since the Ebola outbreak, including declaration of a State of Emergency, shutting down the country for three days and reallocating millions of dollars from other vital services to this life and death struggle.
Containing the outbreak, he said, requires greater international support especially in getting more treatment centers, laboratories and equipment, training for national doctors, nurses and other health workers on safe and effective clinical and nutritional interventions and lifting of blanket bans of flights to and from our countries.
Speaking earlier, China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zhang Ming said that Ebola is a threat to the health, peace and security of the affected countries and the world because Ebola is a disease that knows no boundary.
The Vice Minister catalogued various supports the People’s Republic of China has given to the affected countries since the outbreak. This includes flying Emergency Charted Planes with medical support worth millions of Yuan, cash, food, more medical aide, setting up of laboratory in Sierra Leone, sending medical personnel to Sierra Leone, amongst others.
Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming called on the International Community to act fast, do more and contain the spread of the Virus noting that with their intervention in the fight against the Virus, the People’s Republic of China has motivated the world to act.
He said, “It is in the interest of the world to act and a shared responsibility too”, whilst emphasizing that the International Community must take practical steps, form synergies and help the affected countries.
China, he said, is working on developing Ebola vaccine and progress has been made in that direction, though “this is a highly technical issue”, and expressed hope that the vaccine could be put into earlier usage.
Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming commended the affected countries for their efforts so far in the fight against Ebola and for “taking decisive actions”. He commended the International Community for their support, sympathized with all countries affected by Ebola, assuring that “we are together and we are with you”
The briefing session was a full house, attended by Ambassadors accredited to the People’s Republic of China and representatives of International Organizations.
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