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President Mugabe arrived in New York, the United States, yesterday to attend a United Nations Conference on Ebola, a deadly virus which has ravaged swathes of West Africa.
The President is attending the meeting, dubbed the “International Ebola Recovery Conference” in his capacity as the African Union chairman.
The virus, which has killed over 6 000 people since its outbreak last year, is re-emerging after being brought under control by medical teams and scientists from all over the world.
Ebola, whose origin is still unknown, had its epicentre in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the three countries whose economies have been terribly devastated by the disease.
The three countries have lived under virtual international quarantine since the outbreak, a situation which has badly affected their previously thriving tourism industries.
Although the worst seems to have passed, there are disturbing signs emerging lately about the disease in West Africa.
Three new fatal cases of Ebola were reported last week in Liberia, a country which had in May been declared free of the disease.
It is against this background, and the urgent need to re-build the economies of the three West African countries, that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has organised the international conference on Ebola.
It is meant to marshal resources to both permanently rid the three countries of the disease, and support their economic recovery.
“It (the conference) will focus international attention on the need for targeted investments to support recovery priorities over a 24-month time frame,” the United Nations said.
“The conference will offer an opportunity to discuss detailed country-based and regional anti-Ebola strategies, and provide a platform to secure pledges of international support that can complement African Union-led efforts and help fill technical and resource gaps.”
Leaders from the African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak as well as AU Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma are expected to address the conference.
The African Development Bank, the Islamic Bank, World Bank and the European Union are among top major partners supporting the initiative. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter