(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) President Barack Obama on Wednesday met at the White House with presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone and Alpha CondØ£© of Guinea to assess progress in the fight against Ebola in West Africa.
More than 10,000 people have died from Ebola, Obama noted during an Oval Office appearance with the leaders, but last week, there were fewer than 40 new cases, "so we have seen major progress." "In Liberia right now, there are zero cases," he said.
"In Sierra Leone and Guinea combined, there were fewer than 40 new cases last week, and that is around the lowest number in a year. Now we are focused on a shared goal, and that is getting to zero. We cannot be complacent. This virus is unpredictable." The Ebola epidemic also has been an economic crisis, and the three presidents from West Africa will be meeting with multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, while they are in Washington, Obama noted.
"There's the challenge of restoring markets and agricultural growth, promoting investment and development," Obama said.
"So I am going to be looking forward to hearing from them on how the United States can stand shoulder to shoulder with them to work hard to take this crisis and turn it into an opportunity to rebuild even stronger than before - to strengthen administrative systems, public health systems, to continue the work that they have done in rooting out corruption, reinforcing democratic institutions, all of which will be the foundation stones for long-term progress and prosperity."
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