The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced that $1.4 billion is needed to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DR. Congo and Uganda.
During an online press briefing on Thursday, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya said based on a response and preparedness plan, $1.4 billion will be required to defeat the outbreak.
“If we don’t have this, and if we don’t resolve the humanitarian issue, we will not stop this outbreak,” said Kaseya, noting that the number of confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda climbed to 1,138, with 293 deaths.
Recalling that a total of $910 million pledges was announced by African states, key multilateral and bilateral partners during an African Union-led high-level meeting last week, Kaseya said that only 13 percent of the pledged amount has been released to affected countries and operational response partners so far.
He noted that early financing represents the most cost-effective public health investment, calling for an immediate release of pledged funds before the outbreak escalates into a wider regional crisis.
The Africa CDC, shortly after the outbreak was declared by the DRC on May 15, appealed for $319 million in financing to respond to the crisis.
As the outbreak expands, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organization increased the financing requirement to 518 million dollars to support African countries and operational partners to prepare for, rapidly detect, and respond to the virus.
MG/abj/APA