NEW YORK – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has named Dr. Anthony Banbury of the U.S. as the Deputy Ebola Coordinator and Operation Crisis Manager of the UN Operations Crisis Centre.
The announcement is contained in a statement issued in New York on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on Aug. 12, Ban appointed Dr. David Nabarro, as Senior UN System Coordinator for Ebola.
Banburry will work closely with Nabarro and Dr. Margret Chan and WHO in managing the overall response to the Ebola crisis.
In the statement, Ban said that Banbury would specifically coordinate the operational work of the UN Systems, member states, NGOs and other stakeholders under a single platform. [eap_ad_1] He said Banbury’s focus would be to ensure operationalisation of the UN overall response plan.
Banbury has served as Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support since June 2009.
Ban, at the UN headquarters on Sept. 5, convened a high powered meeting on the Ebla Virus Disease outbreak.
At the meeting, he said: “We are mobilising in every possible way. We are together today to send out an international rescue call.
“The number of cases is rising exponentially. The disease is spreading far faster than the response. People are increasingly frustrated that it is not being controlled.
“What began as a public health emergency is evolving into a social and economic challenge for millions.
“The people of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, in particular , are looking to us for support.
“They are counting on us for a massive surge in assistance: more doctors, nurses and beds; more equipment, trucks and other vehicles.
“We also need better awareness and understanding about what we are facing.” (NAN)
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