Gates Foundation Commits $15m Emergency Funding as Ebola Crisis Deepens in Africa
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Gates Foundation has announced an emergency funding package of $15 million to support efforts aimed at containing the worsening Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
In a statement released on Sunday, the foundation expressed concern over the growing risk of cross-border transmission and the absence of approved vaccines or specific treatments for the rare Ebola strain.
The intervention comes days after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following rising infections, deaths and fears of wider international spread.
According to WHO data, the outbreak has already produced hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths, particularly in eastern DRC, while Uganda has also confirmed infections linked to cross-border movement.
The WHO recently upgraded the national outbreak risk level in the DRC to “very high” as transmission intensified.
Although no Ebola case has been confirmed in Nigeria, authorities have significantly strengthened preparedness measures nationwide.
The Federal Government earlier reassured Nigerians that no confirmed Ebola case had been detected while activating surveillance systems and emergency response mechanisms at airports and border entry points.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria also introduced additional passenger screening and monitoring procedures to prevent possible importation of the virus.
According to the Gates Foundation, the emergency funding will support coordinated outbreak response operations being led by governments in affected countries alongside Africa CDC and WHO.
The organisation disclosed that: $5 million will support Africa CDC’s regional coordination, rapid deployment and cross-border surveillance activities;
Another $5 million will be channeled through WHO’s African regional office to strengthen frontline emergency response operations; The remaining $5 million will go to WHO headquarters to support diagnostics, emergency procurement and critical medical logistics.
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