PSC/PR/BR.(CDLXXI) Page 1 PRESS STATEMENT The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), held its 471st meeting, open session, in Addis Ababa, on 28 November 2014. The meeting was held pursuant to the decision taken by the PSC at its 464th meeting held on 29 October 2014 to dedicate every month a meeting on the Ebola epidemic on the basis of comprehensive reports to be submitted by the Commission, covering the evolution of the situation, the implementation of the mandate of the AU Support Mission to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA), the status of contributions by AU Member States and the level of engagement of the larger international community. Council and Participants took note of the briefing made by the AU Commission on the evolution of the Ebola epidemic in the affected countries in West Africa, the efforts of the AU, the affected countries and the region as a whole, as well as the support being provided by the international community, including the United Nations, the AU partners, the private sector and the civil society. Participants also received statements from the representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), AU partners and the civil society, as well as the wider international community. Council and Participants welcomed the efforts of the AU, the Member States and the various international and regional actors who have mobilized and continue to mobilize responses to the Ebola epidemic. They stressed that, as the recent meeting of the private sector has demonstrated, it is important to continue to mobilize the various sections of the African public, including the civil society and the media, in order not only to keep and scale up the momentum of support, but also to fight the stigmatization and isolation of the affected countries. Council and Participants also expressed gratitude to the African Private Sector for its contribution to the fight against the Ebola epidemic. In particular, they expressed gratitude to the Mobile telephone companies which will be launching the continent-wide citizen based campaign on 3 December 2014. In this respect, they called on AU Member States to also support this campaign, including through granting the necessary regulatory exemptions which include, but are not limited to, a) the provision of a universal short sms code 7979, b) tax exemption, and c) public information dissemination through the public broadcasting services. They also expressed gratitude to all those who have pledged material, human and financial resources to support the countries most affected by the Ebola epidemic, including ASEOWA and called upon them to redeem their pledges, as soon as possible. In the same context, Council and Participants stressed that, in addition to the mobilization of funding for treatment and medical personnel, responses to the Ebola epidemic should also focus on systematic education of the affected communities and on equipping them with basic necessary means and ways of protecting themselves, in order to prevent further spread of the Ebola virus. Council and Participants stressed the need to prioritize prevention of further infections. In this regard, they urged all countries of the region to adhere to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on preparedness and prevention.