Canada stepped up its contribution to the global response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, after the government announced Oct. 17 it would contribute an additional 30 million Canadian dollars ($26.6 million) to various U.N. agencies, Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. This came on top of the CA$35 million already pledged in previous weeks.
“This funding will be committed towards the international effort on five fronts, which include stopping the outbreak, treatment for those infected, ensuring essential vaccines and services, preserving stability and preventing outbreaks in surrounding countries,” Canadian health minister Rona Ambrose said in a statement.
Canada’s Public Health Agency also revealed Oct. 18 it would start shipping 800 doses of the experimental vaccine developed by the National Microbiology Laboratory to the World Health Organization on Oct. 20. Canada had previously committed to sending CA$2.5 million worth of protective equipment to affected countries and had deployed two mobile laboratories in Sierra Leone as of mid-October.
About the author
Flavie Halaisflaviehalais
Flavie Halais is a freelance journalist based in Montreal, Canada, covering international issues and cities through a social lens. Her work has appeared in WIRED, the Guardian, Le Monde Afrique, Jeune Afrique, the Correspondent ,and Devex.