Representatives from more than 30 countries across the Americas met in Havana on October 29 to discuss a regional plan of action to combat Ebola.
The specialists and government representatives were invited by the anti-imperialist Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) bloc to exchange experiences and create prevention strategies to address the Ebola virus. ALBA was formed in 2004 by Cuba and Venezuela to promote pro-people regional integration and now has eight nations.
Cuba has sent hundreds of doctors to Ebola affected countries to try to stop the spread of the virus. Participants include the US Center for Disease Control for Central America, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Pan-American Health Organization, as well as Cuban public health authorities.
At a recent ALBA summit organised in Cuba, member countries developed an action plan to combat Ebola and avoid its spreading in the region. ALBA countries focused on prevention and aiding Caribbean nations as their main priorities.
Specialists and directors for ALBA and CELAC countries were organised in four committees focused on diagnosis, treatment, surveillance and clinical management of patients, as well as education, training and social communication regarding the disease.
The results of this meeting will inform an action plan to be submitted to ALBA governments no later than November 5.
[Abridged from TeleSUR English.]
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