Home / Agenda / Toespraak van H.M. de Koningin - EU Conference on Ebola

Toespraak van H.M. de Koningin - EU Conference on Ebola

3 maart 2015

High Representative,

Your Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

A year ago, few people knew about the Ebola virus.

Today everyone is aware of its deadly consequences for the most vulnerable populations. And we are all deeply concerned by the magnitude of its effects and the threat to public health.

The Ebola epidemic, which struck West Africa so unexpectedly, has had a tragic impact on the lives and the well-being of millions of people in the region. Families have been shattered, children orphaned, communities challenged by a new and frightening scourge. The disruption to trade and business has caused deep social and economic suffering, not only in the affected countries but also in neighbouring states.

The scale of this tragedy and the speed with which it unfolded were unprecedented. The people of West Africa have borne the brunt of the epidemic, but the whole world has rallied to help. For humanitarian reasons alone, we could not have stood by and watched. But we are also conscious, that had the spread of the disease not been checked, we could all have been at risk. In these days of global travel and communications, such epidemics can spread before we even realize it.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I want to pay tribute today to those who have been in the front line of the fight against Ebola from the very first: to the health workers of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Their determination and their dedication to their vocation to help the sick have been crucial in stemming the disease. Some doctors, nurses and medical orderlies have even paid the ultimate price, losing their own lives in their efforts to save patients.

We should not forget the medical teams in Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo either. They have shown that, with resolution and efficiency, the disease can be halted. Even where social interaction and free movement across borders make it difficult. And lastly, I want to praise the efforts of the international health workers, the doctors and nurses, the volunteers that came from far and near to join the struggle. Every individual who has contributed deserves praise and recognition.

Their efforts have helped slow the spread of the disease. Now we must put an end to it completely. We must not rest until we reach the goal of zero infections, when we can say the disease has been eliminated. For now, at least. I know that everyone here shares that aim. The aim of sustaining the effort until the job has been completed. It is important to reflect on how this can be achieved.

However, the conference has a wider goal too. We need to do all we can to ensure that no similar epidemic can ever get out of hand again, as this one did. We need to look hard at the lessons that can be learned from the experiences of recent years. The health systems in all three of the most affected countries were still recovering from the trauma of civil war. Now we must ensure they are strengthened, so that they are robust enough to be able to detect and respond swiftly to any similar threat that may emerge in the future.

This will require imagination and ingenuity. Conditions are not easy in any of the three countries. It was no coincidence that the epidemic emerged first in the most remote areas, where the three borders meet. In a region where the roads are poor and the health services are weak or even non-existent. So the challenges posed concern not just healthcare, but governance and development too. And children and women must be prioritized during the recovery phase. Schools must re-open as soon as possible.

Long-term vision is required. We cannot do everything at once. Besides resources, effort and planning, time is needed. It is crucial to think carefully about the most efficient way to tackle the issues. To consider how an affordable health system can be designed, that is flexible enough to move resources where they are needed, when a crisis arises.

Belgium has been fully engaged in all these efforts. I am proud that my country has been at the forefront of the fight against Ebola. The disease was first discovered by a compatriot, Doctor Peter Piot. Médécins Sans Frontières has done extraordinary work and delivered a constant stream of volunteers. One of our B-FAST teams deployed a mobile lab in Guinea. And on the preventative front, research for the development of a reliable vaccine continues here too. On top of that, Brussels Airlines made the courageous decision to maintain its flights to the affected countries. Indeed, it became a real lifeline, ensuring that help and medical personnel could reach the affected areas, and that they could return home again afterwards.

So, I congratulate the European Union for taking this timely initiative together with the most affected countries and keeping us focused. With joint, sustained efforts, we must prevent the recurrence of one of the most devastating pandemics that Africa has experienced in the past 50 years.

I wish you all well in your deliberations.