General News of Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Source: tv3network.com

Mahama congratulates Liberia over end to Ebola

President John Dramani Mahama has congratulated Liberia after it was declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Liberia had recorded the highest number of deaths during the outbreak of the deadly viral disease.

Over 4,700 citizens had died but after 42 days of no recorded cases, WHO declared the country Ebola-free.

There have been celebrations across the country since the announcement on Saturday, May 9.

Special thanksgiving church services were held across the nation on Sunday.

A public holiday was declared on Monday to allow pupils and workers to celebrate an end to a year-long battle with the disease, which broke out in Guinea.

On his official Twitter page, President Mahama did not hide his excitement in the “giant progress [made] in the fight against Ebola.

“Congratulations Liberia, UNMEER & the 42 Ghanaian health volunteers.”

President Mahama, in his capacity as Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of Ecowas, had led advocacy efforts in securing aid for the three hardest hit Ebola countries including Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Accra had been offered as a staging post for the supply of health equipment and medicine to these countries.

Guinea and Sierra Leone are also a few days away from being declared Ebola-free.