The strategy has involved a goal of reversing the trend in new cases within 2 months, and stopping all transmission in 6-9 months. The plan needs funding by development banks, governments and private sector.
The Ebola outbreak, which has killed 1,427 people in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and Liberia, might soon surpass all previous Ebola outbreaks combined.
The money now being required is six times more than 71 million dollars WHO suggested was required in a plan published less than a month ago.
According to Fadela Chaib, who is a spokeswoman for the Geneva-based agency, WHO wants to publish the plan by the end of this week at the earliest and details might change. Moreover, Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General, has appointed health crisis expert David Nabarro to coordinate the UN response.
However, the European Commission along with aid groups including Doctors Without Borders have criticized the WHO for its lack of leadership in coordinating the fight against the Ebola outbreak.
According to the WHO plan, more than half the cost will be required for the isolation, treatment and referral centers that are bearing the brunt of the outbreak.
Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea are among the world's poorest nations, and a poor health system along with a lack of experienced healthcare workers has contributed to the Ebola outbreak.
This month, WHO declared Ebola outbreak in West Africa a public health emergency of international concern. Furthermore, a separate outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 13 people, the government of the country said.
More than 240 healthcare workers have been infected and 120 have died in West Africa. Among them is Abraham Borbor, who was the deputy chief medical officer of Liberia's John F. Kennedy Medical Center, died in spite of being treated with Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc.'s experimental ZMapp medicine.
| Share | ||
| Tweet | ||
|
|