The Head of the United Nations (UN) Mission on Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), Mr Anthony Banbury, has assured Ghanaians that the presence of the mission in Ghana will not expose them to the deadly Ebola virus.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra, Mr Banbury said the Mission which has its headquarters in Accra will not work directly with infected people in the Ebola stricken countries because their work is mainly going to be providing technical and logistical support for those affected countries: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
He alluded that the Ebola virus is spreading like a wild fire and that the affected countries cannot stop it alone. There is therefore the need for an urgent and robust international effort to help manage the situation.
�It has become a multi-dimensional crisis affecting social life, humanitarian, economic and a threat to national security. The world must act now to stop Ebola. No single state or organisation can stop the effect of this virus; we need a coalition,� he said.
The UNMEER is an emergency health mission deployed by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to combat one of the most horrific diseases on the planet that has shattered the lives of millions.
The mission brings together UN actors and experts who are to support national efforts in the affected countries.
The team will be made up of 250 personnel, out of this, 100 will be based in Accra, and the remaining 150 will be deployed to the affected countries.
Mr Banbury added that Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea would be supported with resources such as helicopters, vehicles and motorbikes to control the situation.
He said UNMEER would also be working closely with community leaders, heads of the various religious groups, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups to completely stop the spread of the disease.
However, should any of the team members contract the virus, that person would be evacuated to the United States for treatment.
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