Australia gives $1M to World Health Organization’s Ebola Fund

The Sierra Leone Telegraph: 19 August 2014 

Report from Sierra Leone’s embassy in Beijing says that the government of Australia has pledged a further $1 million to help combat the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa.

This funding is in addition to the annual$ 20 million contribution that the Australian government provides to the WHO for emergency health relief.

This was disclosed to ambassador Victor Bockarie Foh by the Australian ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, ambassador Frances Adamson at a meeting in Beijing, where Mr. Foh briefed her about the challenges facing the Mano River Union Countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Ambassador Foh also requested further support from the Australian government.

The Australian ambassador said that, following a request by ambassador Foh to meet and discuss a range of issues – including the current Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, she informed her Home Office about the request.

And it was at the meeting held Thursday 14th August that the ambassador received communication via email, from her Home Government telling her that as a Government, Australia was making an additional contribution of $1 million, through the World Health Organization in Geneva.

The Australian ambassador pledges her government’s continuing support for Sierra Leone.

Ambassador Frances Adamson also expressed Australia’s condolences to the government and people of Sierra Leone, following the death of hundreds of Sierra Leoneans from the Ebola outbreak.

The international community, she said, has a role in tackling the health challenge in the countries affected and that as a nation, Australia will do her best to give support through the WHO.

Speaking earlier, ambassador Victor Bockarie Foh informed his counterpart from Australia that both Sierra Leone and Australia share a lot in common, since they both are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and have same colonial similarities.

Ambassador Foh said that three member states of the MRU are now faced with a serious health challenge.

“As part of the international community, I see the need to reach out to you and keep you informed and seek your support during this challenging moment” he said. He also spoke about measures the government of Sierra Leone has put in place to fight the Virus.

Ambassador Foh also used the meeting to thank the Australian Government, through its Mission in Beijing, for the support given to Sierra Leone during and after her civil war, when many Sierra Leoneans left to settle in Australia. “I hope and pray that those of our citizens in your country will continue to abide by the laws of your country.”

He also extended his thanks to the government of the People’s Republic of China for the additional 10 million Yuan ($1.6m) worth of medical equipment given to Sierra Leone.

“Let me use this and any other available opportunity, to thank the government of the People’s Republic of China for their continued support to Sierra Leone in particular and the Sub-Region generally, especially for their continued and timely support in fighting the Ebola Virus Disease”