As CODESRIA members and friends are aware, the eruption of
the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in some countries of West
Africa has provoked a major health crisis in the region. Although
the modes of transmission (direct physical contact with bodily fluids emanating
from people who are suffering from the disease) are now well known, and the
international response to the crisis is evolving, it still cannot be said that
EVD has been brought under control and that the crisis will soon be over.
The World
Health Organization has advised against drastic travel restrictions imposed by
some governments on people from the most severely affected countries. Indeed,
what ought to be stopped is the spread of the disease.
However, we
have been receiving reports from colleagues who have had difficulties
travelling back to their own countries after visiting or transiting through the
airports of countries where there are confirmed cases of EVD. Many of our
colleagues have also made us understand that they feel uncomfortable about the
idea of participating in large international gatherings while EVD continues to
be a phenomenon that has not been brought under control in the most affected
countries.
After
consulting extensively and debating the issue at length, the Executive
Committee of CODESRIA has therefore decided to postpone the scientific
conference of the 14th General Assembly of CODESRIA that was
scheduled for December 2014, to June 2015. The decision to postpone the
conference was motivated by a desire to minimize the risks associated with the
holding of large international gatherings in the region at a time when the
highly contagious EVD is still spreading and killing many people.
The Scientific
Conference and the business session of the 14th General Assembly of
CODESRIA will now both be held in Dakar
between 8 and 13 June 2015 so please save the dates. Authors who
abstracts were shortlisted will soon be informed about the results of the final
selection process
We would like to take this opportunity to
remind all individual and institutional members of CODESRIA that only members
who are up-to-date with the payment of their membership fees are eligible and
can participate in the election of members of the Executive Committee, and in
the decision making processes of the business session of the General Assembly.
We would therefore like to urge all members to pay their membership fees.
We look forward to seeing many of you in Dakar in June 2015.
Ebrima
Sall
Executive
Secretary
CODESRIA
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