Ebola in West Africa: Ethiopia provides health workers and financial help

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 25, 2014 1:57 pm

Use protective gear: For healthcare workers and medical staff, it is absolutely mandatory to use protective gear including gloves, special masks and a body suit to prevent exposure to the virus. Even healthy individuals living in affected West African countries should use gloves and mask to prevent spread of the disease.

Ethiopia takes a step forward to contribute to Ebola-affected countries by sending out 210 health professional to eradicate the epidemic as soon as possible. Also Read - WHO Chief: Don't let your guard down, the pandemic is a 'long way from over'

Also Read - Ebola virus kills 13 in two African countries: How it spreads to humans

In addition, the East African nation has also decided to provide financial support of $500,000 in the highly affected countries, Xinhua reported. Also Read - Guinea declares first Ebola outbreak since 2016, confirm three deaths

Speaking at a press conference on Friday in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Keseteberhan Admasu, Ethiopia’s health minister, said the health professionals drawn from the public and private sectors would be deployed in two rounds.

The mission from Ethiopia comprises medical doctors, nurses, field epidemiologists, environmental health professionals and public health specialists.

The Ethiopian minister noted that the support is a sign of solidarity to African brothers and sisters.

With its programme dubbed the AU Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA), the African Union (AU) has deployed volunteers in the affected countries.

The pan-African bloc recently appealed for more human resources from its member states and development partners to fight the Ebola epidemic.

Despite efforts made to combat and control the epidemic, Ebola outbreak continues to ravage the affected countries in West Africa and the transmission remains persistent and widespread especially in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

‘The outbreak is doubling every three weeks and if you look at WHO (World Health Organisation) prediction, by the beginning of December, unless the outbreak is stopped early, we could see up to 10,000 cases per week. And this is a huge number and lots of hospitals will be needed but at the same time community-based care is also important,’ noted the Ethiopian minister.

Previously, following the call by the AU Commission, the Ethiopian health ministry deployed volunteer field epidemiologists to join the AU support team, according to the ministry.

Welcoming Ethiopia’s offer, Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU commissioner for social affairs, expressed appreciation to the government and people of Ethiopia for the exemplary contribution.

He expressed the hope that the positive decision of Ethiopia would encourage other AU member states to favourably respond to the AU’s call for contributions from member states in the fight against Ebola.

Pierre M’Pele, WHO representative to Ethiopia, noted that the initiative was a real commitment by Ethiopia made Oct 24, which is the UN Day, not only for UN staff but for all nations working together to face all challenges to improve the lives of human beings.

‘It is a great sign for Ethiopia on this special day, the United Nations Day, to make this commitment to show solidarity among African countries, among African actors to improve the health of the African people,’ said the official.

Other contributors

The European Union (EU)

The European Union (EU) will be increasing its contribution to West Africa for combating Ebola to one billion euros ($1.27 billion). West African countries are the worst affected by the deadly virus, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Friday.

EU will increase financial help to one billion euros to fight Ebola in West Africa, said Van Rompuy through his Twitter account during the summit of European Union leaders in Brussels. Know more here.

Mexico and Cuba

Mexico has also now joined hands with The World Health Organisation (WHO) to combat the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, as per the foreign affairs ministry. The ministry declared in a statement that Mexico will make a financial contribution to help equip the doctors and healthcare workers.

Aware that diseases know no boundaries and must be tackled in a coordinated fashion at the international level, the ministry said, The governments of Cuba and Mexico have decided to join forces to help fight the Ebola epidemic . Continue reading here. Read more on Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention.

Image source: Getty Images

With inputs from IANS

Published : October 25, 2014 1:57 pm

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