(VOVworld) - The World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated on Sunday the need for international efforts to continue to support Ebola-hit countries until the epidemic has been totally defeated and to help them recover and build future resilience.

Children in Guinea come forward to get their feet disinfected. (Photo: Reuters)

A meeting was also held under the theme "Ebola: Towards the Recovery of the most affected countries" on the sidelines of the annual Conference of African Ministers of Planning, Economy and Finance, jointly organized in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The WHO’s Director for Africa, Matshidiso Rebcca Moeti, spoke of Ebola’s huge and varied negative impacts on the hardest hit countries: Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. These countries are determined to eradicate the Ebola epidemic so continued world support was essential.

WHO reported that as of February 11^th, nearly 23,000 people have been infected with Ebola and 9,000 have died.