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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned African leaders against politicising the ongoing Ebola outbreak, while urging countries to avoid finger-pointing and isolation as they work to contain the spread of the disease.
The agency’s director-general, Jean Kaseya, said political disagreements and blame could undermine the collective response to the outbreak, adding that cooperation among African governments was essential to preventing further transmission.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Thursday, Kaseya said he was familiar with the political dynamics across Africa, particularly in West Africa, and had been engaging leaders concerned about the outbreak.
“My plea is clear to all leaders: we cannot play politics with this outbreak. We need to come together. We cannot point fingers. We need to come together. We cannot play isolation. We need to come together.
“By doing that, we will save our continent, we will save our countries,” he said.
He added that several African leaders had contacted him to seek information about the outbreak and discuss measures to prevent its further spread.
“I know politics in Africa. Don’t forget that I’m elected by African states. I’m connected to most of them. I’m talking to them. Some of them are calling me to ask what will be next. How can we stop that?” he said.
Kaseya also stated that the Africa CDC was mobilising additional resources to support Nigeria following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja.
He said the agency was working to provide diagnostic test kits and other essential support while awaiting Nigeria’s national response plan to determine further assistance.
He said about 12 colleagues had arrived in Addis Ababa the previous day as part of the agency’s response efforts.
“Yesterday, I had around 12 colleagues. They landed in Addis Ababa. They managed to bring test kits, they managed to bring all kinds of support,” he said.
“We are mobilising all resources. We are just waiting for the national response plan to bring additional resources to Nigeria,” he said.
Kaseya praised Nigeria’s public health institutions, noting that the country had gained significant experience in managing Ebola following its successful containment of the disease in 2014.
He also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) for their efforts.
“Nigeria CDC is doing a great job,” he said.
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