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| Guinea's president on global aid push: 'Ebola forced us to change completely' | Guinea's president on global aid push: 'Ebola forced us to change completely' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than a year after the charity Médecins Sans Frontières sounded the alarm on the Ebola epidemic that would claim more than 11,000 lives, the international community on Friday pledged $3.4bn to help affected West African countries recover. | More than a year after the charity Médecins Sans Frontières sounded the alarm on the Ebola epidemic that would claim more than 11,000 lives, the international community on Friday pledged $3.4bn to help affected West African countries recover. |
| Rather than use the donations for emergency funds, however, the presidents of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, attending a two-day United Nations conference in New York, said they hoped the funds would be used to help their ailing economies. | Rather than use the donations for emergency funds, however, the presidents of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, attending a two-day United Nations conference in New York, said they hoped the funds would be used to help their ailing economies. |
| The trio had petitioned for $3.2bn – enough, they said, to boost brutalized infrastructure and healthcare systems and revitalize flailing private sectors. | The trio had petitioned for $3.2bn – enough, they said, to boost brutalized infrastructure and healthcare systems and revitalize flailing private sectors. |
| The president of Guinea, Alpha Condé, was cautiously optimistic. | The president of Guinea, Alpha Condé, was cautiously optimistic. |
| “You know, a lot was promised to us, but we received little,” Condé told the Guardian in an interview during the conference. “It’s of no use to pledge large numbers if [Guinea] ends up receiving nothing. | |
| “We hope that everyone took note of how isolation policies affected our economies, and that this will lead to the pledging of more concrete numbers that will be made available to us.” | “We hope that everyone took note of how isolation policies affected our economies, and that this will lead to the pledging of more concrete numbers that will be made available to us.” |
| Condé was referring to the international community’s isolationist approach to the Ebola-affected countries. During the epidemic Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia were subject to travel bans, stopped flights and widespread quarantine restrictions. Only two airlines, Air France and Royal Air Maroc, did not suspend flights to his country, Condé said. | Condé was referring to the international community’s isolationist approach to the Ebola-affected countries. During the epidemic Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia were subject to travel bans, stopped flights and widespread quarantine restrictions. Only two airlines, Air France and Royal Air Maroc, did not suspend flights to his country, Condé said. |
| “It’s obvious that the international panic created severe damages to our economy,” he said. “It not only made investors flee, but in closing the borders the country was isolated. One should isolate Ebola rather than isolate countries.” | “It’s obvious that the international panic created severe damages to our economy,” he said. “It not only made investors flee, but in closing the borders the country was isolated. One should isolate Ebola rather than isolate countries.” |
| According to the Guinean government, the country’s economic growth declined significantly in 2014. The rate of growth for 2015 is projected to be 0. | According to the Guinean government, the country’s economic growth declined significantly in 2014. The rate of growth for 2015 is projected to be 0. |
| Condé would like to see many of the donations pledged on Friday funnelled into stimulating the private sector, which he said, was “catastrophically” hit by Ebola. | Condé would like to see many of the donations pledged on Friday funnelled into stimulating the private sector, which he said, was “catastrophically” hit by Ebola. |
| Despite actively recruiting for direct foreign investment in agriculture and mineral industries, Condé was adamant that rebuilding a functional health system remained his main priority. | Despite actively recruiting for direct foreign investment in agriculture and mineral industries, Condé was adamant that rebuilding a functional health system remained his main priority. |
| “We need to reconstruct our ailing system, by reinforcing hospitals and by training doctors,” he said. | “We need to reconstruct our ailing system, by reinforcing hospitals and by training doctors,” he said. |
| Despite a steady decline in the number of infections regionally – recent cases have seen Liberia’s status as “Ebola-free” rescinded – Guinea has seen a constantly fluctuating number of cases. Between the start of the epidemic in March 2014 and 15 June 2015, more than 2,026 people died out of 3,245 confirmed cases of Ebola in Guinea, according to Condé’s government. The country had 10 new cases for the week ending 1 July. | Despite a steady decline in the number of infections regionally – recent cases have seen Liberia’s status as “Ebola-free” rescinded – Guinea has seen a constantly fluctuating number of cases. Between the start of the epidemic in March 2014 and 15 June 2015, more than 2,026 people died out of 3,245 confirmed cases of Ebola in Guinea, according to Condé’s government. The country had 10 new cases for the week ending 1 July. |
| Asked about the rate of infection in Guinea, compared to Liberia and Sierra Leone, Condé was quick to cite his country’s poorer coffers. Despite being larger and more densely populated than the other countries, Guinea received significantly less in aid than its neighbors. Condé suggested this was to do with their higher death tolls. Of $5.1bn made available to Ebola-affected countries by private donors and foreign governments at the end of January 2015, Guinea received $543m, Liberia $1.28bn and Sierra Leone $1.15bn, according to the UN. | Asked about the rate of infection in Guinea, compared to Liberia and Sierra Leone, Condé was quick to cite his country’s poorer coffers. Despite being larger and more densely populated than the other countries, Guinea received significantly less in aid than its neighbors. Condé suggested this was to do with their higher death tolls. Of $5.1bn made available to Ebola-affected countries by private donors and foreign governments at the end of January 2015, Guinea received $543m, Liberia $1.28bn and Sierra Leone $1.15bn, according to the UN. |
| The president also cited technical delays which plagued the health system. Guinea only got upgraded laboratories capable of handling 200 cases a day one and a half months ago – labs which Liberia has had for much longer, he said. | The president also cited technical delays which plagued the health system. Guinea only got upgraded laboratories capable of handling 200 cases a day one and a half months ago – labs which Liberia has had for much longer, he said. |
| Revitalizing the health system was not just about Ebola, Condé insisted. With the Ebola epidemic, he said, Guineans rejected proper healthcare practices, which had a domino effect. | Revitalizing the health system was not just about Ebola, Condé insisted. With the Ebola epidemic, he said, Guineans rejected proper healthcare practices, which had a domino effect. |
| “People flee hospitals where Ebola is being treated,” Condé said. “So with Ebola, people die of other diseases, because they are afraid. Ebola has, as a consequence, increased the number of deaths from other diseases, particularly malaria.” | “People flee hospitals where Ebola is being treated,” Condé said. “So with Ebola, people die of other diseases, because they are afraid. Ebola has, as a consequence, increased the number of deaths from other diseases, particularly malaria.” |
| According to research published last month, 74,000 fewer people were diagnosed and offered malaria treatment last year than would have been expected. | According to research published last month, 74,000 fewer people were diagnosed and offered malaria treatment last year than would have been expected. |
| The Ebola epidemic has created more than 600 widows and widowers, and nearly 6,000 children have been orphaned so far. Women and children have been most infected. | The Ebola epidemic has created more than 600 widows and widowers, and nearly 6,000 children have been orphaned so far. Women and children have been most infected. |
| The UN also estimates that maternal mortality could increase by 38% in Guinea from complications in pregnancy and childbirth, due to the loss of healthcare workers to Ebola. According to Guinean government statistics, there was a 20% decline in the use of health facilities for assisted births and a 25% decline in prenatal consultations. | The UN also estimates that maternal mortality could increase by 38% in Guinea from complications in pregnancy and childbirth, due to the loss of healthcare workers to Ebola. According to Guinean government statistics, there was a 20% decline in the use of health facilities for assisted births and a 25% decline in prenatal consultations. |
| Looking back, Condé said, Guinea could have done something different or better. The country is still taking stock of the lessons it had to learn. | Looking back, Condé said, Guinea could have done something different or better. The country is still taking stock of the lessons it had to learn. |
| “Ebola was a new disease that we didn’t know in Guinea,” Condé said. | “Ebola was a new disease that we didn’t know in Guinea,” Condé said. |
| “Ebola is contrary to all Guinean customs and habits”, he said. “Ebola goes against all of our systems, all of our rites, our funeral rites, our habits. We are naturally warm people, we embrace – Ebola forced us to change, completely … it forced us to act completely against our very natures and customs.” | “Ebola is contrary to all Guinean customs and habits”, he said. “Ebola goes against all of our systems, all of our rites, our funeral rites, our habits. We are naturally warm people, we embrace – Ebola forced us to change, completely … it forced us to act completely against our very natures and customs.” |
| Condé avoided outright condemnation of the international response, though there is certainly much to contend with. Just last week, the World Health Organization – which was tasked with mounting the international response to the outbreak – was condemned in a searing report commissioned by the organisation itself. | Condé avoided outright condemnation of the international response, though there is certainly much to contend with. Just last week, the World Health Organization – which was tasked with mounting the international response to the outbreak – was condemned in a searing report commissioned by the organisation itself. |
| The WHO was judged “to lack the capacity and internal culture” to mount an effective response and was “too slow” in its response, creating “significant and unjustifiable delays” in declaring a public health emergency, which belatedly fired the starting gun for the international response to Ebola. WHO member states also violated the agency’s regulations by imposing bans on travel to the affected nations, the report said. | The WHO was judged “to lack the capacity and internal culture” to mount an effective response and was “too slow” in its response, creating “significant and unjustifiable delays” in declaring a public health emergency, which belatedly fired the starting gun for the international response to Ebola. WHO member states also violated the agency’s regulations by imposing bans on travel to the affected nations, the report said. |
| Condé’s reluctance to condemn the response speaks to the symbiotic relationship between governments and medical aid groups. It was a Médecins Sans Frontières report in June 2014 which drew the world’s attention to the epidemic. But MSF was initially critical of Guinea and Sierra Leone, which it said were reluctant to declare a state of emergency. | Condé’s reluctance to condemn the response speaks to the symbiotic relationship between governments and medical aid groups. It was a Médecins Sans Frontières report in June 2014 which drew the world’s attention to the epidemic. But MSF was initially critical of Guinea and Sierra Leone, which it said were reluctant to declare a state of emergency. |
| Asked about MSF’s claims, Condé said they came from misreading the situation. | Asked about MSF’s claims, Condé said they came from misreading the situation. |
| The president said the Guinean government never denied the existence of an epidemic, but rather was not in agreement with how the message was delivered. | The president said the Guinean government never denied the existence of an epidemic, but rather was not in agreement with how the message was delivered. |
| “We recognize all of MSF’s efforts and are extremely grateful. They took the most risks to heal people everywhere,” he said. | “We recognize all of MSF’s efforts and are extremely grateful. They took the most risks to heal people everywhere,” he said. |
| However, “MSF has a tendency to exaggerate things,” Condé said. “We just did not agree with them intervening, when they are not the official spokespeople.” | However, “MSF has a tendency to exaggerate things,” Condé said. “We just did not agree with them intervening, when they are not the official spokespeople.” |
| But Condé insisted he would rather not dwell on the past. | But Condé insisted he would rather not dwell on the past. |
| “Ebola showed that the world was not ready to confront an epidemic this big,” Condé said. “The world must prepare to face other epidemics, which will come and which could be catastrophic. | “Ebola showed that the world was not ready to confront an epidemic this big,” Condé said. “The world must prepare to face other epidemics, which will come and which could be catastrophic. |
| “Right now, I want to focus on the fight to end Ebola rather than make judgements on lessons learned. That time will come.” | “Right now, I want to focus on the fight to end Ebola rather than make judgements on lessons learned. That time will come.” |