PHM-Exch> [PHM NEWS} PHM WCA’ Statement on the inaction of continental bodies against Ebola in the DRC

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Pacôme Tomètissi <tometissi at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 26, 2019 at 12:28 AM

*PHM WCA’ Statement on the inaction of continental bodies against Ebola in
the DRC*



*'' Union Is Not an Empty Concept, It's a Strategy! ''*

*PHM WCA, July 24, 2019* - PHM West and Central Africa denounces the
continental organizations including CEMAC, ECOWAS, ECCAS, ICGLR, SADC and
the African Union, which show an incomprehensible inaction whereas the
Ebola virus gnaws one of the ‘’lungs’’ of West and Central Africa: DR Congo.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a public
health emergency of international concern, according to the WHO. The report
of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the
International Health Regulations for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, lists 2512 confirmed or probable cases
including 136 affected health workers and 1,705 deaths recorded on July 18,
2019 with about 80 new cases reported each week.

This crisis challenges the different regions of Africa and even the entire
African continent.

Curiously, while the whole world is brainstorming to address the crisis, we
are witnessing total inaction by sub-regional, regional and continental
bodies.  In response, there was only a press conference by the head of the
AU Center for Disease Control in Addis Ababa. No high-level crisis meeting
is planned either by the ECCAS and ECOWAS or by the African Union.

PHM West and Central Africa reminds the continental bodies that union is
not an empty word, it is a behavior but also and especially a set of
strategies to meet the common challenges.

A spread of the Ebola crisis throughout Africa will only add a new burden
to the continent, which already has a lot to do with HIV / AIDS, NCDs,
malaria and malnutrition.

PHM WCA calls on neighboring countries to once again demonstrate the
legendary hospitality we know about Africa by taking great care of refugees
and migrants.

We once again seize the opportunity to denounce the internal and external
forces that fuel the armed conflicts in the country, destroying basic
infrastructure in the area and thus prevent an effective response against
the disease.

PHM West and Central Africa will continue the sensitization and the
mobilization of the communities notably through the People’s Health
Movement country circle in the DR Congo (PHM DRC) and will remain mobilized
together with the other progressive civil society organizations for the
well being of the people and health for all in the region.



PHM WCA.
For more please go to https://phmwcafrica.wordpress.com/
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