Ban Ki-moon calls not to isolate Ebola affected countries and health workers

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The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said the situation for returning health workers from Ebola affected countries is proving difficult and stigma against them should end. He made the remarks late on Monday in Ethiopia in a meeting that aims to focus on regional peace security and development in the Horn of Africa region.

“Returning health workers who have managed to avoid infection are exceptional people who are giving for humanity. Buy they are now being subjected to restrictions that have not scientific basis. They should not be stigmatized for their selfless service,” Bank Ki-moon told reporters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, on his part said the Ebola epidemic has been a wakeup call for many. He thanked African countries like Ethiopia that have contributed health care professionals to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa saying the major barrier to fight the virus now is ‘lack of enough healthcare workers’.

AU Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, in her meeting with the two officials said, “The Ebola Virus Disease crisis exposed the challenges we face in fragile countries.  At the epicenter of the disease, the countries that just emerged from conflicts could therefore not lodge the response required.”