WHO reiterates support towards defeating Ebola

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reiterated its continued support towards defeating the Ebola virus disease which has killed almost 10,000 people since its outbreak.

On the sidelines of the annual African Ministers of Planning, Economy and Finance Conference jointly organised by the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa held in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, a session was convened on Sunday to deliberate on Ebola under the theme "Ebola: towards the recovery of the most affected countries".

Chairing the meeting, WHO's Director for Africa, Matshidiso Rebcca Moeti said that the epidemic has had a huge negative impact of multi-dimensions in the three most-affected countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Xinhua reported on Monday.

As the countries are determined to reach the mark of zero casualties, Moeti emphasised the need to have continued support from the international community until the epidemic is defeated.

"First of all, the countries are determined to get to zero. We have to stop the epidemic and we would like the support to continue until we reach that," she said.

There is a need for immediate recovery in health services, to restart education and to make sure that small business recover, she added.

The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the longest, largest, deadliest, and the most complex in history, a report by the UN Development Group said.

As of February 11, 2015, there were about 22,859 Ebola cases and a total of 9,162 deaths, the report added.