$2.9B mobilized for Ebola response in Africa region

A total of $2.9 billion has been mobilized for the Ebola response in Africa region, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Thursday, amid a surging number of confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya announced the funding following a G20+ Foreign Ministers meeting on accelerating collective action to defeat Ebola convened by the US on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The meeting Wednesday brought together the governments of Congo and Uganda, G20 members, partner countries and international organizations.

The financing would support continental cross-border activities, nationally led priorities including reaching the frontline.

The US has made a substantial contribution to the response, totaling $886 million, while the European Union has mobilized €500 million (568 million) in emergency aid, vaccines, treatment and health security in the Great Lakes and Uganda region, according to Africa CDC.

Kaseya said the funds mobilization demonstrated what is possible when political leadership and international solidarity come together.

“We thank the US for this leadership and sense of solidarity by convening the 20th Ministerial Meeting. But pledges alone will not stop Ebola. We must be able to trace every single dollar -- from commitment to disbursement, from implementing partners to expenditure, and ultimately to the services delivered to affected communities. Transparency builds trust, accelerates delivery and saves lives,” he said.

Africa CDC promised to strengthen its financial tracking mechanism with the Congolese government, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners so that resources reach the frontline faster, funding gaps are visible and national leadership remains at the center of the response.

The WHO said Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak in Congo remains uncontrolled despite signs of improvement in some areas, as cases have risen sharply in the eastern province of North Kivu.

The country has recorded 7,773 confirmed cases, including 3,759 deaths since the outbreak in May in 63 health zones in seven provinces, according to Congolese health authorities.

Children under the age of 5 remain particularly vulnerable, with a case fatality rate of more than 60%, compared with around 40% for adults, according to WHO.

Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa reaffirmed her determination, describing the outbreak as a “major test” for the country and stressed that “for the DRC, fighting this epidemic is an absolute priority.”