PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLS ON MORE NATIONS TO HELP COMBAT EBOLA

REUTERS

(Reuters) - President Barack Obamatoday  called on more nations to help fight the world's worst outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, saying hundreds of thousands of lives were at stake.

The warning came shortly after the World Health Organisation gave a rare hint of optimism in the West African crisis, announcing that the spread of the disease in Guinea appeared to have stabilised.

"More nations need to contribute critical assets and capabilities -- whether it's air transport, medical evacuation, health care workers, equipment or treatment," Obama told a meeting on Ebola on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

"If unchecked, this epidemic could kill hundreds of thousands of people in the coming months."

The United States is deploying 3,000 soldiers to build treatment centres and train local medics. Other nations, including Britain, France, China and Cuba, have pledged military and civilian personnel alongside cash and medical supplies. The World Bank has said it will give an additional $170 million to support medics and healthcare systems in the region.

"The reality on the ground today is this: the promised surge has not yet delivered," said Joanne Liu, international president of Medecins Sans Frontiere.

Linlk to full article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/26/us-health-ebola-idUSKCN0HJ1ZP20140926