The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is granting 920,000 euros via the Finnish Red Cross for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent work to curb the Ebola epidemic. Finland has previously granted a total of 780,000 euros through WHO and the Finnish Red Cross for the work against Ebola. Thus, Finland’s humanitarian aid contribution rises to a total of 1.7 million euros. The matter was decided by Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Lenita Toivakka, the acting deputy for the Development Minister, upon proposal by the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance.
The epidemic, which began in Guinea in March, has become the most extensive and the most severe throughout history. The three states most affected by the epidemic, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, face unprecedented challenges in trying to stop the spread of the disease and in caring for infected people. The countries’ own health care systems are unable to respond to the situation and there is a shortage of nursing staff.
“It is important that Finland bears its responsibility and has a strong presence in the international front to curb the Ebola epidemic and save human lives,” says Minister Toivakka.
At the request of WHO and the local Ministry of Health, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has established a clinic concentrating on the treatment of Ebola patients in Kenema, Sierra Leone. The treatment centre started its work in mid-September. The work also includesawareness-raising campaigns and the training of volunteers in disease prevention and recognition of the symptoms so that the epidemic can be brought under control. The Finnish Red Cross supports these operations by means of personnel assistance and material aid.
The additional support now decided is paid out of the appropriations for humanitarian aid included in Finland’s development cooperation.
Additional information: Anna Gebremedhin, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, mobile tel. +358 40 583 0149; Miika Tomi, Press Attaché to European Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Toivakka, mobile tel. +358 50 574 0507
