USAID Pledges Additional $5 Million to Combat Spread of Ebola - East Idaho News
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USAID Pledges Additional $5 Million to Combat Spread of Ebola

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Thinkstock 082714 WestAfricaMap?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1409173522713iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Agency for International Development on Wednesday pledged an additional $5 million to help fight the continuing outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

In total, USAID has committed approximately $19.6 million since the outbreak began in March. Jeremy Konyndyk, director of USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, said in Monrovia, Liberia, on Wednesday that “it will take a coordinated effort by the entire intentional community to contain the spread of Ebola.” The U.S. has worked closely thus far with the World Health Organization and the governments of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, the countries impacted by the disease.

Also on Wednesday, the World Health Organization confirmed that the disease has spread to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

USAID funding will be used to provide equipment and supplies as well as training for additional health care workers. The most recent shipment from USAID to Liberia included 16 tons of medical supplies and emergency equipment.


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