UN chief calls for building strong health systems, withstand future Ebola outbreak

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon(2nd L, front) speaks during the International Ebola Recovery Conference organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the UN headquarters in New York, July 10, 2015. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday called for pledges to build for strong health systems that can prevent any recurrence and withstand any future Ebola outbreak at the International Ebola Recovery Conference held here on July 9-10. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, July 10 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday called for pledges to build for strong health systems that can prevent any recurrence and withstand any future Ebola outbreak at the International Ebola Recovery Conference held here on July 9-10.

Cases in Guinea and Sierra Leone have been reduced considerably. New cases in Liberia show the need for continued vigilance given the regional risks. The Liberian government's proactive actions also underscore how the response strategy has effectively reinforced national capacities and knowledge to be activated for future outbreaks, said Ban.

A recent cluster of 30 new cases, including three new cases in Liberia which had previously been declared Ebola free, show the need for continued vigilance. The new cases were reported by the World Health Organization for the week ending July 5.

However, the impacts of the Ebola crisis have been far-reaching and much work is needed to support the countries.

"The outbreak has eroded progress on peace and development. It has disrupted health and social services. Many major economic sectors have been affected: agriculture, mining, trade, tourism, transport, fisheries and livestock. The functioning of schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure has suffered," said Ban.

"This negative impact on economies, livelihoods and more importantly lives demands that the global community continues to prioritize recovery from Ebola even long after the crisis subsides. This will be essential to 'stay at zero' in order to strengthen resilience to withstand future shocks," said Ban.

Thanks to those efforts and the support of the international community, the affected countries have seen a significant decline in the number of new cases. Recovery must now be pursued as the response changes from emergency operations to multi-faceted, long- term support.

To this end, the UN chief is hosting an International Ebola Recovery Conference in New York to ensure that recovery efforts go beyond redressing direct development losses to build back better and ensure greater resilience.

"Our shared goal is to build back stronger, safer and more resilient capacities for prevention and response. That means access to health services everywhere not just in capitals. It means health services equipped to not only respond to extraordinary outbreaks like Ebola, but to address malaria, cholera and other common ailments," said Ban.

Investing in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia will yield global dividends in preventing local outbreaks from becoming national emergencies and regional pandemics.

"That is why today is about more than speeches and pledges it is a chance to forge a partnership for a better future a future that is full of opportunity and free of Ebola," said Ban.

"More broadly, we have to learn from the Ebola outbreak (that) responding to the crisis phase is not enough. With any outbreak, we have to do more than end the caseload. We must lay the foundation for true health security by going the extra distance as we pledge today to create strong health systems that can prevent any recurrence and withstand any future outbreak," said Ban.

The Conference is held in cooperation with the governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and in partnership with the African Union, the African Development Bank, the European Union and the World Bank.

The conference focuses international attention on the need for targeted investments to support recovery priorities over a 24- month time frame. Such investments will consider the broader risk landscape, that includes health, governance and peace building within the three countries and the Mano River sub-region, according to UN website.

It also offers an opportunity to discuss detailed country-based and regional anti-Ebola strategies, and provide a platform to secure pledges of international support that can complement African Union-led efforts and help fill technical and resource gaps, according to UN website.