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 An Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the worst on record, has killed
more than 4,000 people. China has contributed about $40 million in
aid to fight the disease, including $6 million to the World Food
Programme.
"Where are the Chinese billionaires and their potential impact?
Because this is the time that they could really have such a huge
impact," said Brett Rierson, the organization's representative in
China, at a briefing.
"You can ask the same thing of the corporate sector, being the
largest investors in West Africa right now."
Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd., a Chinese drug maker with
military ties, has sent several thousand doses of an experimental
Ebola drug to Africa and is planning clinical trials there.
China has also sent hundreds of aid workers to Africa to help.
Dudley Thomas, Liberia's ambassador to China, told Reuters his
country had secured one donation of $100,000 from a large Chinese
construction firm that has projects in the country, but few other
contributions.
He added Liberia's government was in talks with other large Chinese
investors, including the state-owned China-Africa Development Fund,
a private equity fund focusing facilitating investment between China
and Africa.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook Inc., said last week he and his
wife were donating $25 million toward combating Ebola. The Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $50 million.
China's donation to the World Food Programme would be used to
provide staple foods in the three hardest-hit countries, Sierra
Leone, Guinea and Liberia, Rierson said.
That puts China among the top donors to the organization for
combating Ebola. The United States contributed $12.67 million and
Japan gave $6 million, Rierson said.
China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday the country would continue
to provide support.
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"The Chinese government and people have followed the development of
the epidemic situation and have provided four batches of aid to
relevant African countries and international organizations,"
ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
The World Food Programme said it had only raised about a third of
what it needs for the anti-Ebola fight.
About a million Chinese nationals live in Africa, with about 10,000
in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Mao Qun'an, a spokesman for China's National Health and Family
Planning Commission, said in addition to sending aid to affected
countries, China has been training doctors in public hospitals in
handling Ebola cases.
China has also toughened health checks at airports in Beijing,
Shanghai and Guangzhou, he added.
"If they come across a person running a fever or with other possible
symptoms of Ebola, they will be taken directly to a local hospital,"
Mao said. "These entry points are key."
China has not implemented any restrictions on travel to and from
affected countries.
(Reporting By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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