President Uhuru Kenyatta criticises World for slow response to Ebola outbreak in Africa

President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for concerted efforts against Ebola, saying the global reaction to the deadly disease would not have been the same if it had happened in Europe or America.

Speaking during a round table discussion panel of high level delegates comprising of Heads of States and leaders of Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, President Kenyatta said time has come for African leaders to look for homegrown solutions to the continent's problem.

He said the global response to Ebola outbreak is a wake up call to African leaders to partner and set aside resources to tackle health challenges facing the continent.

"The kind of response given to the affected countries is not the kind of response we would have seen if this happened somewhere in Europe or America," said President Kenyatta.

He urged African leaders to work in solidarity in tackling various challenges facing the continent, including health and security problems.

"Be it in terrorism or Ebola, we will only be sorted out when we begin putting our own resources together as a continent. Then and only then, will we be able to get our own solutions," President Kenyatta emphasized.

He said it is unfortunate that most African countries reacted in panic immediately there was an outbreak of Ebola, saying Kenya will soon lift the ban on flights to the affected countries in West Africa by the national carrier – Kenya Airways.

"Ebola is not a problem to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea alone, Kenya depends on tourism and when the crisis unfolded we had to put in place instant measures. We also unfortunately had to stop flights to the affected countries, however this was done to put measures so as to be able to sort out the issue," said the President.

He expressed gratitude to the African leaders for standing in solidarity with Kenya in its time of need and said the only way out for the continent is for its leaders to invest in the health sector just as they do in infrastructure.

Said the President, "We need to look at the health of our people and invest in it the same way we do in other sectors. We must raise capital to make these diseases extinct."

Host President Teodoro Nguema Mbasogo said his intention in setting up UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea international prize for research in the life sciences was to ensure Africa finds tangible solutions to the health challenges facing the continent.

"When the Equatorial Guinea proposed UNESCO prize giving, it was to offer solutions to Africa because of serious diseases, including Ebola. To date, we are still not seeing the scientific, financial and social mobilization by African countries to sort out these problems," he said.

President Mbasogo said African leaders must tackle challenges facing their people head on and offer the required solutions.

Citing the country's experience in handling the Ebola, President Mbasogo said his Government initiated the scientific prize to address emerging health challenges.

"Ebola is now a reality which is shaking us out of our complacency. It is not the first time we are facing Ebola but now we must come out with a solution," he said.

Presidents Thomas Boni Yayi (Benin), Manuel Pinto Da Costa (Sao Tome Principe) and Gabon Prime Minister Daniel Ona Ondo criticized the international community on its lackadaisical response to the Ebola crisis. They called on African leaders to join hands and offer solutions to challenges facing the continent.

They regretted that the disease was causing economic havoc not only to the countries affected but to the whole continent.

They said time was now ripe for the continent to set up a continental fund that would help in research to sort out health challenges.