Speaking in the headquarters of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, President Barack Obama vowed to assist the fight against Ebola, in what he considered as the biggest CDC international response in history.
A few days ago, the Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had called on the United States for desperate assistance while the country's defense minister Brownie Samukai fears the virus will wipe out Liberia's national existence.
As part of the Operation United Assistance, he committed to send more than 2,500 troops to West African regions such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea that have been immensely affected by the virus. So far, more than 2,000 had already died and thousands more are sick. Three Americans affected with Ebola were brought to the United States for treatment. Two have already completely recovered.
Although Obama mentions that things would have to get worse before they can become better, he also believes that the United States has the capacity to do more, and it intends to do them.
Aside from troop deployment, the country also committed to training around 500 health care workers regularly and building over 15 new health care facilities that can accommodate 100 people at any given time.
They will also focus their efforts to the affected communities through a more comprehensive education, including what to do when they have to deal with patients with Ebola. They will also receive health care kits.
Along with the three major Western African countries mentioned above, the U.S. government will also work closely with Senegal and Nigeria, where Ebola cases have also been reported.
Other countries have also expressed their intention to help contain the outbreak. France had already donated more than $150,000 to the Red Cross and promised to send specialists in the affected areas. Britain, meanwhile, pledged to build a treatment facility with over 60 beds, along with troop deployment and $40 million commitment. China will be increasing its number of health care workers to almost 200. It will also contribute $32 million as aid.
