Svani Group Joins Private Sector Effort To Combat Ebola

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today kicked off a partnership with Svani Group Limited, a Ghanaian vehicle dealership operating across West Africa, to support the United Nations’ response to Ebola.

Svani handed over eight vehicles that will be used by the UN Mission on Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the three countries most affected by the epidemic, and Ghana, where the mission is based. The donation included three 20 k three 20 kV generators standby generators.

“It is really gratifying to see organizations like Svani step up and join the fight against Ebola.” said Dominic Sam, the UNDP Country Director in Accra. “The response needs equipment, logistical support, technology and innovation and this partnership is going to boost the UN’s efforts to end this horrible disease”.

“We are happy to heed the call -- made by the ECOWAS Chairperson, President John Mahama and the UN Secretary-General -- for the private sector to step up its engagement toward eradicating Ebola,” said Thomas Svanikier, the Svani Group Chairman during the handover ceremony.

The United Nations established UNMEER at the end of September. The mission’s objective, bringing together the UN’s overall effort, is to stop the spread of the disease, prevent it from appearing in unaffected countries, as well as treat and care for the infected. UNDP is working with UNMEER, to contain the disease and help affected countries recover from the crisis.

UNDP’s three priorities are to coordinate services, facilitating services for Ebola response workers; mobilize and reach out to communities, working with local networks to stop the spread of the disease; and help affected countries recover, through welfare payments and plans to kick-start economies and livelihoods.

Source: Peacefmonline.com