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hings are going bad to worse in Ebola-affected counties and the world community is doing very little to control the worst outbreak this century. Five thousand people have lost their lives and several thousand are affected. Deaths, misery and horror are becoming part and parcel of life in affected areas. From old people to minors, no one is safe from Ebola.

In his recent statement the World Bank chairman warned that the world community is losing the battle against Ebola in West Africa. Only days ago the World Health Organization warned that 10,000 people could be affected weekly from Ebola in Africa. UN Chairman Ban Ki-moon also warned and appealed twice for increased funding to control Ebola in affected countries.

The charity Medecins Sans Frontiers has also appealed for health workers and doctors for the affected area. Health workers are at high risk, several have lost their lives due to poor safety standards and several have demanded high wages and protective suits for their own safety.

Poor medical facilities, a lack of health workers and doctors are the main challenge in affected countries. In some affected countries such as Liberia, only 1,100 doctors are available for the whole population. Unfortunately everyone wants to protect their own interests and safety. Several countries have imposed travel bans on affected countries and several others have closed their borders with affected countries which are also proving counterproductive because health workers and doctors find it hard to travel to affected areas. Despite the outbreak causing the deaths of several thousand people, no vaccine is available and things are going from bad to worse.

Modern countries can spend millions of dollars against unseen enemies, star wars and Mars missions but can'€™t save dying humanity in West Africa, which is very unfortunate.

Khawaja Umer Farooq
Jeddah