‘The World Health Organization needs NOK 23 million in immediate contributions for its efforts to fight the Zika virus. When I met Director-General Chan yesterday, I promised that Norway will quickly provide NOK 10 million,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

The World Health Organization (WHO) played a key role during the Ebola outbreak that ravaged several West African countries during much of 2015. Afterwards, the organisation was criticised for being too slow in responding and lacking in operational capacity.

‘The World Health Organization, the countries affected and donors must apply the lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak. It is crucial that WHO quickly and decisively steps up its efforts to fight the Zika virus, which is mosquito-borne,’ said Mr Brende.

WHO has a unique position as an intergovernmental, independent and normative specialised health agency within the UN. Norway is one of the largest donors to the organisation, and provided NOK 336.5 million in support last year.

Source: www.regjeringen.no