African Union Raises Alarm Over Ebola Outbreaks in DRC and Uganda
The African Union has expressed deep concern over the escalating Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, warning that the disease poses a growing risk of spreading across the African continent if urgent containment measures are not intensified.
In a press statement released on Sunday from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, commended the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, alongside frontline health workers and national health authorities, for their swift response efforts despite difficult conditions on the ground.
Youssouf said the African Union stands in full solidarity with the people and governments of the two affected nations, stressing that Africa has previously overcome major public health crises through unity, coordination and collective action. He also welcomed preparedness measures being implemented by neighbouring countries, particularly South Sudan, to prevent cross-border transmission of the deadly virus.
The AU further reaffirmed its support for the leadership of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in coordinating a continental response in collaboration with member states, the World Health Organization and humanitarian partners. The continental body has since called on African countries and international partners to intensify surveillance, preparedness and rapid response mechanisms in both affected and high-risk countries to safeguard public health security across Africa.