ECOWAS leaders slam media over Ebola reportage

Heads of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) are unhappy with international and continental media reportage on the Ebola Virus Disease.

The leaders, who met in Accra Thursday, noted that the alarming reportage by media houses has led to grave stigmatisation of Africans.

They have called for an end to such a trend to aid the fight against the deadly virus, which has claimed over 4,800 lives in mainly Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

ECOWAS Chair, President Mahama said the media must be circumspect in order to avoid the continuous stigmatization of Africans.

“One of the things we must begin to look at is the issue of stigmatisation…as a result of media reports” Ghana’s President said.

He added “the stigmatization is taking place against people from West Africa against people from Africa. I received a report that a plane load of West Africans that was turned back from one country and all of them sent back because they believed that they are infected with Ebola so these are things we need to watch”.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has given the assurance that there will be about three million Ebola vaccines by the end of 2015.

It is however asking African governments to subsidize the vaccines for their citizens as a dose will cost 100 dollars.