‘Why U.S. rejected Nigeria’s request for ZMapp’

Posted by admin American Politics, Latest Politics Thursday, September 4th, 2014

• Govt to help ECOWAS countries over Ebola outbreak

• World leaders seek more action to check disease

A FRESH insight into why the United States (U.S.) rejected Nigeria’s request for the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp emerged Thursday.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas Greenfield, explained that Nigeria’s request was not met because there were only six doses of the drug and that they had all been used.

Greenfield spoke when she visited the Minister ofHealth, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in Abuja yesterday.

She said: “The Centre for Disease Control hasproactively supported all the countries in the West African region in dealing with the situation. It is not about ZMapp. There were six doses of ZMapp available. They were all used. What is important is how to control the spread of the disease. And that is exactly what is being done here in Nigeria, and efforts are being made to have the same kind of success in Liberia.”

On her appraisal of other countries in the region affected by the virus, she said:”We are very concerned about the spread of the Ebola disease in Liberia, Sierra Leone and in Guinea. Efforts have been made proactively, every single day, with the support of the Centre for Disease Control, the World Health Organisation and the medicalcommunity around the continent of African and around the world to support the efforts to contain the outbreaks in these countries.

“Again, I really commend everything that is being done here in Nigeria to contain the outbreak.”

Noting that there were concerted global efforts to curtail the disease, she stressed: “I think the world is doing everything it possibly can to control this disease. There are many diseases in the world. I mentioned to the minister that we are still wary about malaria. There are more people dying of malaria in Africa than those that are dying of Ebola. We are working on all of these to try to find a way of controlling them.”

Chukwu stressed that the ministry would assist other West African countries with the capacity gathered so far.

He told journalists: “Nigeria has always been her brothers’ and sisters’ keeper. Nigeria helped and founded ECOWAS. You remember it was during the Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s regime, when he was Head of States, that ECOWAS was established. Nigeria continues to play that leading role in ECOWAS. We are going to assist our sister nations. Let me also reaffirm that the United States of America has fully been part of this battle; how to contain the Ebola virus disease in Nigeria. The U.S. CDC has done wonderfully well.

“Even if you go remotely, part of the infrastructure we have in Nigeria was because U.S. CDC worked with Nigeria to get them established. So, we are grateful to the government of the United States; and the support continues to come in. Even some of the hand-held infrared thermometers we are using were provided by the United States government.”

On the trial drug, he said: “You talked about ZMapp. The explanation has come on why that was impossible. But, we have done also well without ZMapp. Eight patients have been successfully managed and discharged. The point is that it is not all about ZMapp. So, we are going to assist other ECOWAS countries.”

Speaking with journalists after the visit, Greenfield said: “I am here, talking with the minister of health this morning. I commend the minister and his staff and the government of Nigeria on how effectively they have been working to deal with the Ebola outbreak here in Nigeria. They are taking all the right steps to control this. And, they are having great success here.

“I appealed to the minister to assist neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone as they also grapple with this terrible outbreak.”

Meanwhile, leaders have expressed solidarity with citizens in the countries affected by this deadly disease.

In a statement by the leaders, entitled “Citizens call to action against Ebola”, they said: “We also thank and salute the local and international health workers who are risking their lives daily, intervening on the ground to eradicate the scourge of Ebola, often without access to gloves and other protective supplies.

“We acknowledge and applaud the decision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) health ministers to call for the lifting of travel bans to Ebola affected countries, which are hampering the fight against Ebola and restricting the arrival of essential expertise and equipment, as well as fuel to provide electricity, medications to treat other deadly diseases such as malaria and food to prevent famine.

“In the name and interest of our common humanity, we are collectively launching this urgent Citizens’ Call to Action.

“We call on our respective Heads of State and Government to avoid full embargo against Ebola-affected states. While we understand the legitimate concerns for the protection of their population, we remind African leaders of their obligation to pan-African solidarity and the global community of their humanitarian obligations in emergencies. We urge the following immediate actions:

One: “Ensure that the flow of essential assistance can reach those in need, while maintaining economic activity necessary for sustaining life in cities and villages, by authorising and implementing the local recommendations issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Acknowledging the impossibility of quarantining entire nations and instead establish much-needed economic and humanitarian corridors of access – essential life-lines – both within the affected countries and between countries.

Two: “We call on African opinion leaders – including artists, athletes, filmmakers, writers, journalists, academics – to initiate or to actively take part in public information campaigns on prevention and transmission of the Ebola. These can happen via road-shows, film screenings, theatrical pieces, discussion groups, and the distribution of messages via cellphone networks. And we call upon global opinion leaders to add their talents and voices in support.

Three: “We call on the broad private sector, the pharmaceutical industry, and the research community, in particular, to fund, facilitate and make immediately available access to all known methods of prevention and treatment of this menacing threat to our global well-being.”

The statement was signed on August 31, 2014 by:

Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria;

Benjamin Mkapa, former President Tanzania; Mrs Graca Machel, President of the Foundation for Community Development; Bineta Diop , Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, African Union; Youssou Ndour, Singer; Ali Mufuruki, InfoTech Investment Group; Kandeh Yumkallah, Chairman of UN-Energy and former Director-General; Zainab Bangura, Special Representative of UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; Ashih Thakkar, founder, MARA Group; AKON, Singer, Toke Alex Ibru, Executive Director, The Guardian; Frannie Leafier, founder, Mkoba Group;

Wendy Luhabe, Africa Chairperson, Cartier Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs; Dele Olojede, Journalist, Pulitzer Prize Winner; Amadou Mahtar Ba, executive chairman, Co Founder AllAfrica Global Media; Akere Muna, Presiding Officer, AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council; Mamadou Toure, founder, Africa 2.0 Thelma Awori, chair Institute for Social Transformation, former UNDP Director; Angelle Kwemo, founder & chair, Believe in Africa; Linus Gitahi, CEO Nation Media Group, Prof. Ousmane Kane, Harvard University, Ebrima Sall, Executive Secretary CODESRIA Slim Othmani, CEO, NCA-Rouiba, Chairman Algeria Business Council, Prof. Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Columbia University, Prof. Alioune Sall, Director, African Futures Institute, South Africa, Prof. Mamadou Diouf, Columbia University, Trevor Ncube, Deputy Executive Chair, Mail&Guardian; Omar Ben Yedder, Director IC Publications, Oulimata Sarr, Country Coordinator, IFC Advisory Services, Férial Haffajee, Editor In Chief, City Press, Zyad Limam, Director Afrique Magazine; Aminata Forna, Professor of Creative Writing and award-winning author Mahen Bonetti, Founder & Executive Director of African Film Festival, Inc. Fatou Wurie, Activist, Aliou Goloko, CEO Goal Communication, Reed Kramer, CEO, AllAfrica Global Media; Aly Leno, Président Union des Journalistes Culturels et Animateurs de Guinée), Tidiane Soumah, PDG Todoane World Music; Dr Tendai Mhizha, CEO Integra Africa, Samba Bathily, PDG ADS; Prof. Cheikh Ibrahima Niang, UCAD, Hassan Ba, Special Advisor, OCP, David Applefield, Special Representative for Africa, Financial Times, Prof. Penda Mbow, UCAD,Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, former Minister, Kenya, Dr Tami Hultman, CEO AllAfrica Foundation; Soyata Maiga, Special Rapporteur on Women Human Rights in Africa, Harriette Williams Bright, Femmes Africa Solidarité Isham Elgar Olympic and World Champion, Younes Maamar CEO Eone Investments; Prof. Fatima Harrak, President CODESRIA, Mohamed V Souissi; Prof. Kwadwo Ansah Koram, Director, Noguchi Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon; Prof. Adam Habib, Vice Chancellor, University of Witwatersrand; Prof. Olive Shisana, CEO, Human Sciences Research Council, and Prof. Suren Pilley, University of Western Cape.

-Guardian

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