France's President Francois Hollande is the first major western leader to visit an Ebola-affected country Hollande visited Guinea where more than 1,200 have died from EbolaÂ He was greeted by President Conde who said his visit was 'important' French President told his hosts: Â 'We have a duty to support you' But during visit to Donaka hospital in capital Conakry, he was well-protected by a horde of guards France's President Francois Hollande became the first major Western leader to visit an Ebola-affected region since the outbreak began - but with the aid of a horde of bodyguards. Hollande,Â who was greeted on his arrival to Guinea by President Alpha Conde,Â pledged that France would set an example by providing aid to countries stricken by the disease. He is the first Western leader to visit one of the three worst affected west African countries - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. French President Francois Hollande accompanied by Guinean President Alpha Conde greets medical staff as he arrives at the Donka hospital in Conakry, Guinea today in a seven-hour stop on his way to Dakar, Senegal President Hollande, who is the first Western head of state to visit one of the west African countries worst hit by Ebola,Â visits the French Pasteur institute laboratory at Donka hospital in the country's capital, Conakry More than 5,700 people have been killed in the worst known outbreak of Ebola in history. In Guinea, 1,260 people have died from Ebola out of 2,134 cases of infection.Â He told his hosts 'we areÂ together with you in the struggle' and 'we have a duty to support you' ahead of a visit to an Ebola hospital.Â Â Speaking to reporters at Conakry airport, he said: 'France wants to set an example. Beyond material help, it is human help which is the most important. He added he he had come to 'deliver a message of hope.' He will travel to neighbouring Senegal later for a summit of French-speaking nations in Dakar.Â The French president washes his hands before he enters Donka hospital in Conakry. Mr Hollande earlier told reporters 'France wants to set an example. Beyond material help, it is human help which is most important President Hollande smiles while medical staff atÂ Donka hospital prepare to take his temperature on his arrival. He earlier told his Guinea hosts 'we are together with you in the struggle' and 'we have a duty to support you' President Hollande gets his temperature taken by the waiting medical staff. A total of 1,260 people have died from Ebola out of 2,134 cases of infection in the west African country which was stricken with the disease Guinea's President Alpha Omar Conde also has his temperature measured upon his arrival at Donka Hospital He promised that during the conference in the Senegalese capital, he will call for an international mobilisation' against the disease.Â Â France has pledged 100 million euros ($125 million) as a contribution to the fight against Ebola, focusing its efforts on Guinea, its former colony. The money is to be used to help with financing several care centres as well as 200 beds, some of which are reserved for health workers caring for the sick. President Hollande, left, meets with Fanta Camara, right, who represents the association of Ebola survivors France has also pledged to set up two training centres for health workers, one in France and one in Guinea. In addition, French biotechnology companies will set up rapid diagnostic tests in Africa.Â Â Other Western nations are also ramping up their support.Â Hollande, pictured left, reviews the honour guard, in Guinea, where he said he came to deliver a 'message of hope' The US is deploying up to 3,000 troops, mostly in Liberia, while Britain has sent military staff to build treatments centres in Sierra Leone.Â Locals cheer towards the motorcade carrying President Hollande through Guinea's capital, Conakry President Conde said the arrival of French president Hollande, whose cavalcade through Conakry brought out locals to cheer him (pictured), was 'a very, very important sign ... it means everyone can come to Guinea' President Conde said Hollande's visit sent an important message. For the people of Guinea, the arrival of President Hollande is a very, very important sign. 'If the president of a country as important as France can come to Guinea, that means everyone can come to Guinea.'Â Conde's government has made some progress in controlling the outbreak. However, aid workers have said that local resistance to help is hampering efforts to curb the spread in rural areas.Â Guinea will be the focus of trials by British-funded researchers on a 15-minute Ebola test, the Wellcome Trust and UK government announced today.Â Â