Protective gear and infection-control materials sent by the United Arab Emirates have so far reached about 280 health facilities in parts of Africa hit by Ebola, according to the head of the country’s main aid body, who said the shipments totaling more than 150 metric tons also included food and shelter supplies for affected residents.
The UAE is now adding $10 million to that effort. The funding, channeled through the UAE Aid Agency on the instructions of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will go toward international work to contain the virus and to bolster health systems in the areas where it has taken hold, WAM reported.
The pledge was made public in New York, where the United States hosted a meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the outbreak and how countries could sharpen their collective response.
Much of the concern centers on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the outbreak continues to pose challenges and has been reaching into a wider geographic area. Health authorities and aid groups have pointed to the need for tighter coordination between countries and quicker action to keep the humanitarian and medical toll from growing.
Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, who chairs the UAE Aid Agency, urged governments to act in unison and move faster at what he described as a critical moment, saying stepped-up efforts were needed to slow the disease and stop it from passing from one community to another.
Al Ameri also said health systems in affected countries need backing so they can better prevent infections, detect cases early and respond effectively.
He described the UAE as an active participant in joint global responses to crises, disasters and health emergencies, and said the country carries out this work alongside governments, international organizations and regional institutions as part of what he called its responsibility to shield communities from disease.
