We Must Not Rest Until Ebola Is Defeated - Prez Mahama

President John Mahama has underscored the dire implications of the Ebola virus disease for the entire community of West Africa and the continent at large, saying there can be no rest until the dreadful disease is defeated. He said Ebola has stigmatised countries of the sub-region and is already having a negative impact on their socio-economic performance and there is therefore the need to pool resources and efforts to fight and defeat it. President Mahama was addressing a meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Health in Accra after a two-day West African Health Organisation experts forum, and said �currently in the sub-region, Ebola is officially recorded in four countries and yet the entire West African community of 15 nations and even Africa as a whole of 54 nations, has been stigmatised with the disease.� He said the regrettable characterisation is having adverse socio-economic consequences on the entire continent and not just on the affected countries, explaining that even nations that depend on tourism and are yet to register any Ebola case are suffering from the cancellation of visits. President Mahama said he has had to personally explain to some world leaders that serious though the disease is, it does not affect the entire continent or even where it has been recorded, the disease is contained in specific locations. �Yes this is a serious crisis requiring our full attention, vigilance and urgent response and we will do everything to defeat this disease,� he vowed. President Mahama, who is also chairman of ECOWAS paid tribute to health workers at the front of the management of the disease and said, a number of them, including the late Dr Adadevoh of Nigeria, have made the ultimate sacrifice so the spread may be contained. He also praised countries in the sub-region, especially those affected by the disease, for the efforts they continue to make to contain the EVD. Though Ghana may not have recorded any case of the virus, he said nothing was being left to chance as the government the government was committing enormous resources, including the procurement of 10,000 protective gear for doctors. There is also heightened education in of the populace while schools have been asked to put in adequate measures ahead of reopening.