Russia allocates 779.4 million roubles to combat Ebola

As part of its contribution to the international efforts to combat the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the Russian Federation has allocated a total of 779.4 million roubles ($18 million). 

A statement issued by the Russian Embassy in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said the Federation had been consistently stepping up its efforts to render practical and financial aid to affected countries since the very start of the Ebola crisis.

It said specifically, 213.4 million roubles had been spent on direct humanitarian aid to the West African countries affected by the epidemic. 

“Another 162.3 million roubles has been transferred for R&D on diagnostics, prevention and treatment. 

“The outbreak has prompted the allocation of another 248.7 million roubles to strengthen international emergency response mechanisms, including the WHO’s International Health Regulations, and 155 million roubles has been used to enhance national preparedness to prevent trans-border proliferation of the disease and to protect Russian citizens from Ebola.

“These sums include both Russian ministerial spending and assistance to international organisations, including the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme,” the statement said.

“The Russian Federation will continue to focus on West Africa’s current public health crisis related to the spread of Ebola, and to provide targeted financial and technical aid, both on a bilateral and multilateral basis, in order to end the crisis.”