The World Health Organization (WHO) warmly welcomes further support from the Government of the People's Republic of China announced this week to support WHO's response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
China will provide $2 million USD to WHO, which will be used to support WHO’s work in responding to the Ebola outbreak in the three worst-affected countries: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
On 21 Oct 2014, Mr Zhang Xiangchen, Assistant Minister of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about this donation on behalf of the Chinese government. Dr Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO Representative in China, signed the MOU on behalf of WHO.
"This Ebola outbreak is unprecedented in size and scope. This requires an unprecedented global response. WHO has been urging countries of the world to step in to support the response effort, and we are very grateful that China has heeded this call," said Dr Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO Representative in China.
The financial support announced by China comes on top of in-kind support already being provided by the Chinese Government, including multiple batches of emergency assistance, nearly 200 medical staff deployed to West Africa, and a mobile laboratory on the ground in Sierra Leone, providing laboratory testing and disease surveillance.
For more information, please contact
Ms WU Linlin
WHO China Office
E-mail: wul@wpro.who.int
Office Tel: +86 10 6532 7191