IVORY COAST: Ivory Coast's economic capital works to defeat Ebola before it even arrives

Record ID: 182782

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Ivory Coast's economic capital works to defeat Ebola before it even arrives
  • Date: 17th September 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) EPIDEMIOLOGIST IN CHARGE OF IVORY-COAST'S PREVENTION AGAINST EBOLA, DAOUDA COULIBALY, SAYING: "Since March we've begun education campaigns to explain that it's a serious illness, it's not a figment of the imagination, and it's a matter of death and dead bodies." VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN WASHING HANDS VARIOUS OF STREET SCENES ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 12, 2014) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) STUDENT, CESAR KOUAME KOUAKOU, SAYING: "Often it is a bit difficult because the contact between people cannot be avoided. We are students and we are always on the bus. We can greet each other, but not touching the body. We can try to follow that more or less because we don't know what can actually cause the disease." ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 10, 2014) (REUTERS) STREET SCENES, GV'S BILLBOARD READING: "EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EBOLA VIRUS - THE MYSTERIOUS KILLER" ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 12, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IVORY COAST TRADE MINISTER, JEAN-LOUIS BILLON, IN OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) IVORY COAST TRADE MINISTER, JEAN-LOUIS BILLON, SAYING: "We are already affected economically speaking because of the perception. Some people are cancelling their flights to the region. But I would say it's really a world-concern today and not only an African or an Ivorian concern." ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 10, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STREET SCENES ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 09, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND'S RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN IVORY COAST, ALAIN FELER, IN OFFICE. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND'S RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN IVORY COAST, ALAIN FELER, SAYING: "I think the more you go to the perception that things are getting out of control, the more you will have this psychological effect." VARIOUS OF COCODY HOSPITAL BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) IVORY COAST TRADE MINISTER, JEAN-LOUIS BILLON, SAYING: "In Ivory Coast, the first president was a doctor. So he had developed hospitals everywhere in the country and television very early, and radio, so we could inform the population." VARIOUS OF AWARENESS FOOTBALL BANNER READING "OUT EBOLA - ALL TOGETHER AGAINST THE EBOLA VIRUS" STREET SCENES (SOUNDBITE) (French) EPIDEMIOLOGIST IN CHARGE OF IVORY-COAST'S PREVENTION AGAINST EBOLA DOCTOR DAOUDA COULIBALY, SAYING: "The neighbouring countries are at risk. No one can predict exactly when neighbouring countries will be affected. We can be affected tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. So let's not wait until we're affected before receiving international aid. No, this assistance must happen now." VARIOUS OF MARKET SCENES
  • Embargoed: 2nd October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire
  • Country: Ivory Coast
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ZTI3RCO9G1BO7EOSHT04UCY2
  • Story Text: Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and French-speaking West Africa's dominant economy, has mounted one of the region's most robust efforts to fend off the world's worst ever Ebola outbreak.
    The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes some 20,000 people will have been infected by the highly contagious hemorrhagic fever before the epidemic is finally halted in six to nine months. Dr. Coulibaly, an epidemiologist in charge of Ivory Coast's prevention against Ebola, is working to ensure that none of them are Ivorian.
    "Since March we've begun education campaigns to explain that it's a serious illness, it's not a figment of the imagination, and it's a matter of death and dead bodies," he said.
    Hand washing stations with buckets of bleach solution have appeared at the entrances of government buildings and office towers.
    Handshakes and the country's traditional greeting of three kisses on the cheeks, have largely been abandoned on the advice of the government, replaced in some cases by a soft elbow bump.
    "Often it is a bit difficult because the contact between people cannot be avoided," said student Cesar Kouame Kouakou. "We are students and we are always on the bus. We can greet each other, but not touching the body. We can try to follow that more or less because we don't know what can actually cause the disease."
    Though the country has yet to register a single case, at least two international conferences due to take place in Ivory Coast were cancelled. And international cocoa exporters have restricted staff movements in the country, exposing the sector's vulnerability to the growing fear of Ebola.
    "We are already affected economically speaking because of the perception. Some people are cancelling their flights to the region. But I would say it's really a world concern today and not only an African or an Ivorian concern," said the country's trade minister, Jean-Louis Billon.
    The potential dangers go far beyond the risk of a tarnished image. While economists are still assessing the impact of Ebola, it's increasingly clear that a major economic catastrophe is brewing just across Ivory Coast's borders.
    Economic growth in Liberia and Sierra Leone could decline by almost 3.5 percentage points, according to the IMF, as Ebola cripples their agriculture and services sectors. Growth in Guinea could fall by more than 1 percentage point, it said, though Standard Chartered last month slashed its forecast to 2.5 percent from an initial 4.5 percent.
    Ivory Coast would face the same issues were Ebola to jump the border. And, given its economy makes up around 40 percent of the eight-nation West African CFA-franc zone, the effects, including higher inflation, would likely be region-wide.
    "I think the more you go to the perception that things are getting out of control, the more you will have this psychological effect," said Alain Feler, the IMF's resident representative in Ivory Coast.
    Ivorian authorities are heartened though by recent events in Senegal and Nigeria, where rapid government responses appear to have contained nascent outbreaks.
    "In Ivory Coast, the first president was a doctor, so he had developed hospitals everywhere in the country and television very early, and radio, so we could inform the population," added Billon.
    After an initial slow start, hundreds of millions of dollars in financial assistance are also finally beginning to pour in to bankroll the fight against Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and offset the economic damage the disease has wreaked.
    "The neighbouring countries are at risk. No one can predict exactly when neighbouring countries will be affected. We can be affected tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. So let's not wait until we're affected before receiving international aid. No, this assistance must happen now," said Coulibaly.
    President Barack Obama announced Tuesday (September 16) that the United States plans to send 3,000 troops to the region. Although many see the growing momentum as a positive step towards containing the disease at the source, anxieties remain that nations on the front-line of the struggle are still being neglected.
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