The African business community has pledged US $28.5 million (about Rwf20billion) towards the fight against Ebola in West Africa

Donald Kaberuka, the President of African Development Bank (AfDB), said the gesture is a key step in creating a sustainable mechanism to deal with the scourge.

"I salute the business people of Africa for making such a statement in dealing with an epidemic that has ravaged our continent. We cannot emphasise the importance of finances in overcoming this problem, but competences are very critical as well,” Kaberuka, said in a statement.

"Governments have responded well and a number of them have pledged to send over 2,000 health workers. Private companies can offer to train health workers or equip those on the ground. We need the knowledge they have and services they can offer in responding to this.”

Kaberuka was speaking during the African Business Roundtable, organised by AfDB and the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday.

The meeting attracted more than 60 private business representatives and leading companies including banking, telecommunications, and the extractive industry, among others.

The Chairperson of Africa Union, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, commended the initiative and urged all stake holders to unite in the fight against the disease.

 "The private sector is important in the development of the continent, and this Roundtable was aimed at mobilising business support, as well as opening the dialogue on the post-Ebola economic recovery of the countries,” she noted.

 Eugene Kamanzi, a Kigali based business man, said that, it’s critical for the private sector to contribute to the fight of Ebola, for obvious economic reasons.

"The world has become a global village socially but also economically, and it’s obvious that if Ebola in West Africa is dealt with, it could affect aggregate demand and consequently, market  in terms of the exports going to the region,” Kamanzi told The New Times.

The business leaders also agreed to set up a fund under the auspices of AfDB and AU through which they can always contribute financially or logistically to disease outbreaks.To date, Ebola has ravaged communities and infected more than 13,000 people. It has so far killed over 4,900 people. Nigeria, which suffered the scourge alongside Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, was in October declared Ebola-free.