Africa Against Ebola

African governments, corporations and citizens partnered in the fight against Ebola. Over US$34-million has been raised and more than 850 African health workers dispatched to the most-affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The African Union worked with the Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Trust to the mobilise resources to send much-needed health workers from the African continent to the affected areas.

The public and private sector made contributions to the efforts to fight Ebola through SMS campaigns and cash donations. In November 2014, an SMS campaign was launched with the message, “Africa Against Ebola”. Over US$34-million has been raised to date. Donations made went towards providing the required equipment to fight Ebola and sending health workers to affected areas.

The devastation caused by the Ebola outbreak called for a united front from Africa and the world. African Union member states and citizens demonstrated their solidarity in their effective response to the epidemic.

Following its outbreak in 2013, Ebola killed more than 11 300 people, while close to 29 000 were infected. The epidemic devastated families, communities and the economies of the affected countries. It also affected social and economic development of the West Africa region and the continent.

In January 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an end to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The African Union and the WHO commended the governments and the people on their response to Ebola.

The AU marked the end of its Ebola mission at the end of January 2016 in an event held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“As we salute the peoples and governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and the contributions of so many different individuals, countries, institutions and the private sector, and we formally end this mission, we can say with confidence that solidarity is alive, and that we care and will continue to care,” said Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AU Commission chairperson.

For more information, go to www.africaagainstebola.org.