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Remarks following visit to Guinea


Statement12th November 2014

TBI ended it's work in Guinea in 2020.

I've just had discussions with President Conde and met with my own team who have been working closely with some quite incredible civil servants, health workers and international agencies - people who've quite literally become the frontline in this global health emergency.

I discussed in detail with President Conde what's being done and what more needs to be done. An impressive centralised response unit has been established to coordinate responses, and as a result many, many more lives will be saved. But this is a global disease and requires a truly global response.

Guinea has very specific asks on the things that need to happen and the trained people that need to come. We can beat this terrible disease. It means more beds, more treatment and transit centres, more labs, and logistical support to improve the burial process.

I would like in particular to thank the French government for the ongoing support that it has given to date to Guinea in its battle against the Ebola virus. Its contribution in terms of personnel, logistics and financial support remains essential to allow Guinea to defeat this outbreak.

Too often the other forgotten victim of this outbreak is the economic progress of developing economies like Guinea. President Conde and his Government have taken some brave and important steps to open up the economy as the country seeks to use its natural resources for the benefit of its people.

Just as we cannot stand by and allow Ebola to threaten the lives of so many, we cannot allow it to lay waste to the economic futures of countries like Guinea.

Guinea has made real strides in getting a grip on this disease, but this isn't a problem for West Africa alone, it's a problem for the world. If we allow this thing to continue, it's going to be very, very costly to put right - both in human and financial terms.

I've said before that if it costs one billion dollars to knock out this disease it's money well spent. Whatever it is we need to do, we just have to get on with it and do it.

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