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Estonia, in cooperation with the United Kingdom, is sending hand sanitizer and antibacterial liquid soap to Sierra Leone to prevent the further spread of Ebola in West Africa, Estonian foreign ministry announced, cites LETA.

The disinfectants will be introduced at Ebola treatment and prevention centres located in Sierra Leone, whose activities are coordinated by the United Kingdom.

According to Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the disinfectants sent from Estonia will help create a safer environment for all the volunteers who care for patients at the centres, as well as for all of those coming to the centres seeking help. "This year, Estonia has contributed 370,000 euros to the fight against Ebola," Pentus-Rosimannus said. "We are also ready to provide additional support to stop the spread of Ebola," she added.

The World Health Organization reports that as of the end of November a total of 15,935 cases of Ebola have been registered and of those 5,689 cases ended in death.

As a result of the Foreign Ministry's announced limited call for applications, the Chemi-Pharm company's disinfectants will be sent to Sierra Leone. Estonia funded the purchase of the products with 40,000 euros. Estonia is working in close cooperation with the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) in sending the disinfectants to Sierra Leone.

In total, Estonia has contributed 370,000 euros to the fight against Ebola this year. Two donations have been made through the World Health Organization: 10,000 euros in the spring, to help combat the Ebola outbreak in Guinea and 50,000 euros in the fall, to combat the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa. In addition, Estonia contributed 40 000 euros in October to the United Nations Ebola Multi-Partner Trust Fund, founded by the UN Secretary-General and 230,000 euros for the fight against Ebola in West Africa through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Estonian physician Dr. Argo Parts participated as a member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) four-week mission in Monrovia Liberia to help contain the spread of the Ebola outbreak.