BRUSSELS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) awarded three NGOs (non-governmental organizations) the EU 2015 health award for their significant contribution to fighting Ebola in West Africa and for promoting higher levels of public health in Europe, the European Commission said on Monday.
First place was awarded to Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).
ALIMA's regional emergency intervention led to the opening of a 40-bed Ebola treatment center and outreach activities in Forested Guinea, infection and prevention control measures in Mali and Senegal, and conducting of a clinical trial on an anti- Ebola treatment with the French public research institute INSERM.
Second place went to Concern Worldwide for its initiative to provide safe and dignified burials in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The NGO acted as part of a consortium that took over the management of 10 burial teams from the government of Sierra Leone in October 2014, including the management of two cemeteries, grave digging staff, and transport teams.
Third place was awarded to the Spanish Red Cross for it's West Africa Ebola outbreak relief operation.
The Spanish Red Cross supported the creation and management of two Ebola treatment centers in Sierra Leone, provided psychosocial support for the population affected by the outbreak, and helped monitor the health of irregular migrants travelling from the affected areas to the EU.
There were 26 candidate NGOs from nine different EU member states that were considered for the prize.
