10 Dec 2014

As part of the global initiative to help Ebola stricken countries, Botswana has donated 15 Toyota land cruisers to fight the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. 

While national red cross societies from different countries have been providing medical professional as well as volunteers to help contain the outbreak in West Africa, Botswana decided to step up and help after the outbreak few months ago.

The outbreak, which is the biggest of its size in the history of outbreaks in West Africa, has had huge impact on health services and infrastructure of the affected countries as most of them do not have prior experience with the disease. 

In an interview with BOPA, the disaster management coordinator of Botswana Red Cross Mr Obakeng Sethomo said the secretary general of the Botswana Red Cross Ms Mable Rammenkwa handed over the vehicles on behalf of the Botswana govenment to the secretary general of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) Elhadj As Syon on December 2.    

Mr Sethomo said the vehicles have since been accepted by the national red cross societies of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. 

 Meanwhile, in a statement to the Botswana government, the regional representative of IFRC in Dakar Mr Momodou Lamin Fye commended Botswana for the contribution towards the management of the Ebola epidemic currently affecting West Africa. 

On behalf of the National Societies of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, Mr Fye said IFRC wished to “reassure the government and people of Botswana and the Botswana Red Cross that the 15 cruisers donated will go a long way in facilitating the operational logistics of the Red Cross Societies to reach and serve the most vulnerable populations.” ENDS