An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Nov. 17, 2014

U.S. Welcomes G20 Plan to Stop Ebola, Strengthen Health Security

By Gayle Smith

We have consistently said that Ebola is an urgent global challenge requiring an urgent and commensurate global response. Earlier on November 15, leaders of the G20 — a collection of the world’s largest economies from their ongoing summit in Brisbane, Australia. They committed to continued and intensified action to end the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and pledged to assist others to achieve needed health security capacity to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to future outbreaks before they become epidemics.

The communique commends the extraordinary international commitments and cooperation toward the Ebola response to-date, while urging countries around the globe — as well as international organizations and the private sector — to do their part. The statement also goes one step farther to achieve global implementation of the World Health Organization International Health Regulations, which over 40 countries and 17 G20 members have now pledged to accelerate through the Global Health Security Agenda.

Specifically, among other steps, G20 leaders pledged to:

• Expedite the provision of funds and other forms of assistance to the affected countries, including personnel, medical teams and personnel, medical and protective equipment, and medicines and treatments;

• Share their experiences fighting the epidemic to ensure healthcare workers and other responders encounter the safest conditions possible;

• Urge greater efforts on the part of researchers, regulators, and pharmaceutical companies to develop safe, effective, and affordable diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments;

• Call upon international and regional institutions — as well as civil society and the private sector — to devise ways to mitigate the impacts of the epidemic and facilitate an economic recovery for the affected countries;

• Encourage the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund to continue their strong support for the affected countries, including through concessional loans, debt relief, and grants;

• Build capacity to prevent, detect, report early and rapidly respond to infectious diseases such as Ebola so that future outbreaks of infectious diseases can be stanched before they develop into epidemics; and,

Set a date by next May for those members that wish to accelerate action to announce a timeline for establishing the needed capacity across the Economic Community of West African States and other vulnerable regions to combat future infectious disease threats.

All told, the international community has already committed more than $1.5 billion to fight the epidemic, while officials from countries large and small have worked on the ground hand-in-hand, together with authorities from the affected countries and humanitarian responders, to beat back this disease. But, today’s communique signals a commitment on the part of the world’s largest and most powerful countries to see this challenge through and to recognize infectious outbreaks for what they are: global threats. The United States will be there until the Ebola epidemic is contained and the affected countries are back on their feet. And on November 15, many of our closest allies and partners pledged to be right there with us.


CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
Twitter
342,185
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Australia Welcomes United Sates Marines Back to Darwin
US Marines have begun arriving in the Northern Territory for this year’s Marine Rotational Force – Darwin. They will conduct training activities to deepen interoperability and better position our forces to respond to contingencies in the region.
March 22, 2023 - Defence Australia -- United States Marines have arrived in the Northern Territory as part of the 12th rotation of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D).Over the next seven months, up to 2,500 Marines will conduct combined...

Logistics in Peacetime is Hard Enough; Now Add Water, Distance, and Being Shot At: USFJ DCOM
Brig. Gen. James Wellons, deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan, participated in a panel at the Defense Security Equipment International conference in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, March 17. The panel, comprised of military officers from each service of Japan’s Self Defense Forces as well as senior officers from the British Army and Royal Australian Air Force, discussed the important role of logistics planning to national security strategy.
March 22, 2023 - TOKYO, Japan -- Brigadier General James B. Wellons, deputy commander, U.S. Forces Japan, participated on a panel at the Defense Security Equipment International conference in Tokyo, Japan, Mar. 17, 2023.The panel, comprised...

CTF 74 Visits U.S. Submarine in Australia
Royal Australian Navy Rear Adm. Matt Buckley, Head of Capability, Nuclear Powered Submarine Task Force and Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7 board the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) for a distinguished visitor cruise with Australian political leaders and diplomatic guests, March 15. Asheville conducted multiple tours for distinguished visitors during a routine visit to HMAS Stirling, Western Australia to enhance interoperability and communication, and strengthen relationships with the Royal Australian Navy.
March 21, 2023 - HMAS STIRLING, Australia -- Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7/Task Force (CTF) 74, visited Perth, Australia, to meet with the Sailors of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758)...

U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Presents Gen. Yamazaki with Legion of Merit
TOKYO (March 19, 2023) Gen. Kōji Yamazaki, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, joins Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, at a ceremony presenting Yamazaki with the Legion of Merit in Tokyo. Yamazaki received the award for exceptionally meritorious service, where his professionalism, initiative and dedication to duty resulted in significant advancements in the United States-Japan mutual security partnership, expansions to the Self-Defense Forces contributions regionally and globally, updates to force posture and continuous bilateral information exchange. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon M. Smith)
March 21, 2023 - Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, presented Gen. Kōji Yamazaki, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, with the Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander, in Toyko on March 19,...

U.S. Coast Guard, Federated States of Micronesia National Police Conduct at-sea Engagements to Combat Illegal Fishing, Strengthen Skills
The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) makes a port call in Yap during a Federated States of Micronesia patrol on March 13, 2023. The Oliver Henry is the 40th 154-foot Sentinel-class fast response cutter named for Oliver T. Henry, Jr., an enlisted African American Coast Guard member first to break the color barrier of a then-segregated Service and homeports in Guam.
March 21, 2023 - SANTA RITA, Guam -- The U.S. Coast Guard (USCGC) and Federated States of Micronesia National Police conducted a successful at-sea engagement to combat illegal fishing in Yap State on March 16, 2023.The crews of USCGC Oliver...