Sweden steps up Ebola financial aid
Another 230 million kronor ($31m) is set to be donated by the Swedish government to fight the Ebola virus in west Africa, making it the largest contributor in the world in terms of funding per capita.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) will distribute the money which bumps up Sweden's overall contribution to 560 million kronor.
Sweden is now the number one country in terms of funding per capita ahead of the UK and Norway and fifth in total overall. Of the 230 million kronor being donated, 100 million is going towards the UN Ebola response fund, 90 million to Unicef and 40 million to the World Health Organization.
A sum of the Sida money will be used to purchase vital equipment to have in stock and also to educate the public on how to take precautions against the disease.
"While at the same time the infection continues to spread it is not at the same rate as previously feared. The situation is still not under control in some of the countries," Peter Lundberg, head of Sida's humanitarian unit, told SVT.
The World Health Organization has estimated that up to 7,000 people have died of the Ebola virus in west Africa, along with 16,000 documented cases in total.
The United Nations has estimated that eleven billion dollars is needed to fight Ebola.
At its peak more than 100 people were contracting Ebola on a daily basis in Liberia. Experts had predicted that by Christmas there would be thousands of new cases, but that has proven to be far off the mark.
DON'T MISS: Swedish health minister talks to The Local about Ebola crisis
Earlier this week a Swedish expert on global health said the threat against Ebola had decreased and suggested that the battle against the epidemic is entering a new phase.
"Ebola response in Liberia is now entering the second phase. No longer a virus hunting humans. Now we hunt the virus!"Hans Rosling, Professor of Global Health at Karolinska Institute, wrote on Twitter.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is a government agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government carrying out enhanced development in 33 countries.
The Local/pr
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The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) will distribute the money which bumps up Sweden's overall contribution to 560 million kronor.
Sweden is now the number one country in terms of funding per capita ahead of the UK and Norway and fifth in total overall. Of the 230 million kronor being donated, 100 million is going towards the UN Ebola response fund, 90 million to Unicef and 40 million to the World Health Organization.
A sum of the Sida money will be used to purchase vital equipment to have in stock and also to educate the public on how to take precautions against the disease.
"While at the same time the infection continues to spread it is not at the same rate as previously feared. The situation is still not under control in some of the countries," Peter Lundberg, head of Sida's humanitarian unit, told SVT.
The World Health Organization has estimated that up to 7,000 people have died of the Ebola virus in west Africa, along with 16,000 documented cases in total.
The United Nations has estimated that eleven billion dollars is needed to fight Ebola.
At its peak more than 100 people were contracting Ebola on a daily basis in Liberia. Experts had predicted that by Christmas there would be thousands of new cases, but that has proven to be far off the mark.
DON'T MISS: Swedish health minister talks to The Local about Ebola crisis
Earlier this week a Swedish expert on global health said the threat against Ebola had decreased and suggested that the battle against the epidemic is entering a new phase.
"Ebola response in Liberia is now entering the second phase. No longer a virus hunting humans. Now we hunt the virus!"Hans Rosling, Professor of Global Health at Karolinska Institute, wrote on Twitter.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is a government agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government carrying out enhanced development in 33 countries.
The Local/pr
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