The European Union has committed Ksh74.1 billion (€493 million) towards efforts to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region, marking one of the largest international funding commitments announced so far.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the European Commission said the funding will support emergency medical operations, humanitarian assistance, vaccine and treatment research, as well as programmes aimed at strengthening health systems in affected countries.
The announcement comes as governments and international organisations intensify efforts to prevent the disease from spreading further across the region.
In regard to this, the commission added that funds will be directed at emergency medical intervention for the current outbreak response, humanitarian aid to the Great Lakes and Uganda, vaccine and treatment research for filoviruses, and preparedness activities and health system strengthening measures.
It was stated by the Commission that the response had been orchestrated right from the start of the epidemic with the help of the members of the European Union, international organizations, and other global stakeholders.
“This Ebola outbreak is a litmus test of global solidarity. While some turn inward, the European Union stands firm, ready and reliable,” Commissioner for Crisis Management of the European Union, Hadja Lahbib.
The announcement came after President William Ruto and other world leaders who attended the G7 summit in France released a press release on the need for international efforts for tackling the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda.
In the statement released on June 16, the leaders described the outbreak as a significant global health security threat and pledged financial, technical and humanitarian support to contain the disease and prevent its spread beyond the affected areas.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the burden that the disease is inflicting on the affected communities and stand in solidarity with the countries affected,” the leaders said.
The latest commitment also comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested during the G7 Summit that no country or international bloc had made a major financial commitment to the Ebola response apart from the United States.
The EU’s announcement now places the bloc among the leading contributors to the international response effort.
Meanwhile, the United States recently announced an additional Ksh2.59 billion (US$20 million) to support Ebola preparedness measures in Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan.
That allocation pushed Washington’s direct contribution to the Ebola response to more than Ksh28.5 billion (US$220 million).
The U.S. has also pledged a further Ksh6.48 billion (US$50 million) to support the establishment of up to 50 Ebola response clinics across the region as countries continue to strengthen surveillance systems, border screening and emergency response capabilities.
The latest funding commitments come as regional governments step up preparedness measures amid concerns over the potential spread of the disease, with health authorities across East Africa increasing surveillance and response efforts to protect public health.
