AHF to WHO: Action on Ebola Will Save Lives More than Words
The recent statement by WHO may be well-intentioned, but whats needed right now are reforms that help the people who are dying every day, said AHF President Michael Weinstein.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
is urging the World Health Organization (WHO)
to take more tangible actions towards ending the current Ebola crisis,
addressing neglected tropical diseases and protecting against future
emergencies in lieu of declarations to promote its newest slogan.
While its "triple
billion” plan to improve global health over five years is an
admirable goal, the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo is evidence that reforms must translate to immediate and
actionable changes to better deal with emergencies. Additionally,
neglected tropical diseases, which are not mentioned in the statement,
are a major cause of disease burden, resulting in approximately 57
million years of life lost due to premature disability and death,
according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The recent statement by WHO may be well-intentioned, but what’s needed
right now are reforms that help the people who are dying every day,”
said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “We hope that the goals
mentioned in the statement eventually come to fruition, but those
currently suffering from the second worse Ebola outbreak in history need
WHO’s full attention.”
With over 900 people having been infected with Ebola and almost 600
deaths since last August, AHF urges the international community to do
more. WHO should declare the outbreak a public health emergency of
international concern, and the UN must use its existing mandate that
authorizes force to ensure peace for the response effort. These two
measures will allow for increased cooperation among agencies, bolstered
resources and protection for medical staff working tirelessly to fight
the virus.
The outbreak’s epicenter sits in an area where armed groups are
competing for control, threatening relief efforts and putting healthcare
workers at risk. Just two weeks ago, two Ebola treatment centers were
burned down in coordinated attacks that specifically targeted the
response. Additionally, political instability and public distrust of
outsiders make locating and vaccinating infected or high-risk
individuals extremely difficult.
With a deteriorating situation in the Congo, WHO must lead from the
front and bring the international community together to end this
epidemic. Statements and press releases only go so far—it is time for
real action to save lives.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over
one million clients in 43 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe/Eastern Europe. To
learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org,
find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth
and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare
and Instagram: @aidshealthcare
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