Dear Editor,
Fighting against pandemic viruses such as zika recently found in Guyana, ebola, dengue, avian and swine flu and others requires joint efforts by all the members of the world community. The Russian Federation offers to strengthen cooperation with the developing countries of Africa, Latin American and the Caribbean region in this area. It supplies free medical equipment to Caribbean countries and proposes a region-wide programme on child vaccination.
The recent success achieved by Russia in the vaccination field is developing and registering a highly-effective vaccine against the deadly ebola virus, which has been shown to be suitable for HIV-positive people also, on whom vaccines often do not work. As Russian President Putin said, the vaccine has proven to have a higher effectiveness than those drugs which until now have been used in the world.
The Joint Research Centre of Epidemiology has been established in Guinea to diagnose, treat and prevent infectious and highly contagious diseases, using the Russian drug, and ranks among the most advanced medical centres of its kind to be set up in West Africa. The Centre’s premises include an infection hospital, a provisional hospital, a mobile laboratory and a blood and plasma transfusion department with a laboratory.
The President of Guinea, Alpha Conde stated at the opening ceremony that his country is very grateful for the generous contribution of the Russian Federation: “It is a great honour to accept this valuable contribution, which will significantly help us in the fight against Ebola”.
The centre was built and equipped by the RUSAL company, a leading global aluminium producer. Investment amounted to over US$10 million.
The BCGI Company, Guyanese RUSAL joint venture, has also been pursuing a socially responsible policy in the areas of its operations and beyond. Besides facilitating a water supply, TV transmission, school transportation and computer equipment it sponsored studies at the prestigious People’s Friendship University of Russia for a group of students from Aroaima, one of whom will return home as a medical doctor.
We hope the new vaccine will represent successful treatment for the deadly virus which killed over 11,000 people since December 2013 in Central African countries. Although some of these states were declared free from ebola in November 2015 the virus has started killing people again since that time.
Yours faithfully,
Aleksei Illivuviev
Press Attaché of the Russian
Embassy in Guyana
