The United States government has announced plans to provide an additional $242 million (approximately Ksh31.3 billion) to support immediate Ebola response and preparedness efforts in East Africa.
In a statement on Tuesday, August 11, the US Department of State said the funding is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak and support affected communities.
"The Department is announcing that, working with Congress, it intends to provide an additional $242 million in funding for immediate Ebola response and preparedness efforts in the region and humanitarian assistance related to the outbreak," the statement read.
The new commitment is part of a broader pledge made by the United States at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in June, where Washington committed to providing up to an additional $500 million toward Ebola response efforts.
"This additional funding is aligned with the U.S. government’s commitment at the G7 Leader’s Summit on June 16 to provide up to an additional $500 million on Ebola response efforts," the statement added.
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The Department of State said its direct assistance to combat the outbreak has now surpassed $512 million, allowing organisations implementing response programmes in Africa to expand their activities.
The US said the direct Ebola funding is separate from $350 million in humanitarian assistance allocated to the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda.
The amount forms part of a wider $1.8 billion assistance package to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced on May 14.
"The Department of State’s assistance announcements to combat the outbreak have now exceeded $512 million in direct assistance, enabling implementing organizations to expand the ongoing response in Africa.
"This is in addition to $350 million for critical humanitarian assistance in the DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda, as part of our $1.8 billion in assistance to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced on May 14," the statement further read.
The United States said it remains the largest financial contributor to the Ebola response and that the additional resources will support cooperation with governments, private sector partners and humanitarian organisations.
It also urged other international donors to increase their financial contributions toward efforts to contain and respond to the outbreak.
"The United States continues to be the largest financial contributor to the Ebola response. This additional funding will enable the United States to continue work with governments, private sector partners, and humanitarian implementers to mount a robust and comprehensive response.
"The United States continues to call on other donors to dedicate resources toward tackling this Ebola outbreak," the statement noted.
This comes days after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale dismissed reports of 7 American nationals being quarantined at the Laikipia Air Base Ebola Facility.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 23, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), he said the government halted the construction of the US Ebola Facility in Laikipia.
Duale maintained that the government complied with the court order, which suspended the construction of the Ebola facility and entry of Ebola-exposed persons.
"When I appeared before the court, I made a commitment and said I respect the rule of law. We stopped the construction at Laikipia Air Base.
"From where I sit as the CS for Health, I don't respond to what Reuters writes. What I said is what is happening; we have complied with the court order," he said.
