Public health/New Year greetings to the diplomatic corps
Paris, January 16, 2015
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The crises relate not only to politics and security but also to health. In the face of the Ebola epidemic France once again was spurred into action, fortunately not alone, notably in Guinea, building new centres and treating patients, along with training and treatment for the healthcare personnel most exposed.
The World Health Organization – and this is good news – indicates a decline in the numbers of cases in the three most affected countries. The battle is not, however, over; combating the pandemics is a priority.
France is providing and will continue to provide the funds we have pledged to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: €360 million. Likewise, although the Ebola epidemic has required us to take as a matter of urgency €25 million from our UNITAID contribution, which is financed by the airline ticket levy, these funds will be restored in 2015 because we consider that combating epidemics also contributes to our own safety. (…)./.
