MOSCOW, November 16 (Sputnik) — Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made a number of new appointments in the government, including Health Ministry, declaring the objective to stop the spread of Ebola virus by Christmas in her Special Address to the Nation Sunday.
"…We continue to combat the Ebola virus and strive to achieve our national objective of zero-new-cases by Christmas," Sirleaf said in her special statement to the nation, published on All Africa website.
Sirleaf added that the ultimate goal is "recovery to the health care system, so that we deliver health care services all across the country and are better prepared for any epidemic of the size and scale of Ebola".
Announcing that "a responsive team" is need to reach such an objective, Sirleaf said Health Minister Walter Gwenigale would be replaced by George Warner, formerly head of the civil service, as part of a broader Cabinet reshuffle. Gwenigale, however, will continue to serve as the ministry's adviser.
"My hope is that this team will take us to the finish line, but make no mistake: As captain, I will not hesitate to change anyone, who fails to meet our expectations," the president concluded.
With the spread of the virus, Liberian government has been criticized domestically for ineffective approach to Ebola fight.
Liberia has been hardest hit by Ebola virus among other West African states. According to the latest World Health Organization's data, 2,812 Liberians have been killed by the virus, with 6,878 confirmed, probable and suspected cases having been reported. In total, 5,177 people have died, and 14,413 cases have been registered.
The current Ebola epidemic started in southern Guinea in December 2013 and soon spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. The latter two countries have recently been declared free of the virus.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of those infected. Although there is no officially approved medication for the virus, several countries, including Russia, are currently working on trial vaccines.
