ECOWAS set to seeks for fresh approach to tackle Ebola

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has called for a fresh approach to deal with the spread of the Ebola disease.

In line with this approach, he cautioned member states against taking unilateral actions capable of thwarting regional efforts to contain the spread of the disease.

Ouedraogo gave the warning at a dinner with media representatives, in Abuja, on Friday night.

Quoting the World Health Organisation figures, Ouedraogo said as of September 12, the disease had affected 4,872 people and claimed 2,445 lives of ECOWAS citizens.

Of this number, 240 health workers had developed the disease while 120 of them had died.

He said closing international boarders and suspending flights within the West African sub-region was likely to become counter-productive in curtailing the spread of the disease.

Reiterating the recommendation of health ministers of the sub- region, Ouedraogo said the solution to the Ebola challenge was prevention of its spread, solidarity, and collective response.

He said, “We must eschew stigmatisation or isolation of affected member states or persons. Closing of boarders by member states or suspension of flights could be counter -productive.

“None of (our) member states can successfully deal with the development challenges confronting our region alone, but collectively we can make it. Instead of isolation, we should establish humanitarian, health and economic corridors to assist affected countries.

“As recommended by our health ministers, open borders with checks should be the rule and closure the exception.”

The President dismissed insinuations that the ECOWAS Commission knew that the late Patrick Sawyer had the disease.

Source: Punch