Michel Vandepoorter
The Ebola virus epidemic is spreading fast in some West African countries and has reached unprecedented levels in Guinea where the toll has risen to 1505 cases, including 854 deaths. The number of new cases per week has more than doubled since September and if this trend continues, there will be 500 new cases in December, and projections suggest an ever-growing spread of the infection.
We cannot ignore the fact that the crisis has humanitarian, economic, societal and security aspects. This is why European countries need to scale-up their strategies. Along with its British, German and other European partners, France is playing its full part in the fight against Ebola, with three main objectives: combating Ebola in Guinea, increasing its efforts in West Africa and further enhancing international mobilization.
France's plan to combat Ebola in Guinea relies on three areas of action.
First, it is critical to identify skilled and protected human resources. Local healthcare recruits are key to the Ebola response system. In Guinea, it consists in opening local training centres for healthcare and other workers. It is crucial to provide structured training programmes to ensure a recruitment pool and lower the secondary infection risks. One hundred and twenty employees of Civil Security and the military health service, organised in dedicated centres in France and Guinea, are training in local healthcare. At the same time, France is building a treatment centre for healthcare worker in Conakry. Medical treatment for Guinean staff members infected while administrating treatment is crucial to convince local recruits to work in healthcare.
Secondly, France provides high-level diagnosis resources. It strongly supports the creation of a Pasteur Institute in Guinea for diagnosis and training, which involves deployment of healthcare personnel and experts to assist the existing Guinean structures in the treatment of patients and boost laboratory capacities. France also provides contribution to set up three Ebola Treatment Centres (ETCs) out of the 10 that Guinean government plans to open. The first one to be operated by the French Red Cross opens this month.
Finally, it is important to implement enhanced coordination in the Ebola response, including experience and knowledge sharing with the Guinean government. French civil protection personnel staff is currently providing training courses for Guinea's civil protection. France is also committed to strengthen primary healthcare in Guinea's forest region and to address the humanitarian and economic challenges through a WFP contribution. In order to minimize the spread of the disease, France is participating in more rigorous controls of departures from Conakry airport.
Stopping Ebola epidemic requires efforts in the whole West African region
Efforts must not be concentrated in Guinea only. All West Africa is concerned by the Ebola crisis therefore France is committed to support Guinea's neighbouring countries. We contribute to strengthen Liberia's health system, provide financial contributions to fight the virus in Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon, and assist laboratories in seven West African countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo for a global amount of €100 million.
If we want to contain the Ebola disease epidemic, it is essential to raise awareness among populations. People must be informed about channels of contamination and symptoms. More importantly, they need to be aware of how to look after themselves, their families and friends. As the radio seems to be the most efficient instrument of communication and prevention, France actively supports local radio stations in six African countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Togo.
France is mobilized within international coordination structures
France initiated Europe's mobilization in the 15 September meeting.
Through the 15 September Brussels' meeting, France took the lead for enhanced international cooperation -the resulting document adopted the French proposal to establish a new European mechanism to coordinate medical evacuation and hospitalization of international humanitarian staff. Now, France is providing, together with its European partners, Ebola-infected healthcare workers the possibility of evacuation for health purpose. In addition, France helps to strengthen controls of passengers leaving the contaminated area in cooperation with the CDC of Atlanta and the WHO.
France is committed to international coordination structures. It sent a secondment of experts to United Nations and European Commission teams. From a financial perspective, France has offered an exceptional contribution to WHO. It also participates in the funding of institutions involved with combating Ebola - World Bank, European Commission and the African Development Bank.
Monsieur Vandepoorter is Ambassador of France to Malta