Ethiopia Deploys 200 Health Workers to Support Ebola Response in West Africa

Ethiopia Deploys 200 Health Workers to Support Ebola Response in West Africa

Addis Ababa. 24 October. The Government of Ethiopia will deploy 200 volunteer health professionals to Ebola affected countries in West Africa along with USD 500,000 of financial support. Ethiopia’s support to West Africa will focus on strengthening case management, surveillance and organization of community care.

“If the WHO prediction of 10,000 cases per week becomes true, we need to strengthen especially community care,” said Dr Kesetebirhan Admasu, Minister of Health in the press conference held at the Ministry of Health today. The Minister of Health highlighted that the Ebola affected countries can learn from Ethiopia’s experience in building a strong community healthcare system.

Dr Pierre M’Pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative to Ethiopia congratulated, on behalf of Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director General, and Dr Luis G. Sambo, WHO Regional Director for Africa, the Ethiopian Government for its important commitment to the Ebola outbreak response. “Making this commitment today, on United Nations day, shows the solidarity and unity in Africa to face the challenges on our continent together to improve the lives of the people.”

Ethiopia’s commitment follows the African Union’s appeal to its member states to urgently fill the critical gaps in the Ebola outbreak response. “This initiative from Ethiopia, the host country of the African Union Headquarters, is very important and it can encourage other member states to follow with their support,” said Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Commission.

Ethiopia’s team of health professionals will consist of medical doctors, nurses, field epidemiologists, environmental health professionals and public health specialists, who will support the strengthening of national health systems and Ebola outbreak response efforts in the affected West African countries.

Notes for Editors

Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal, illness that kills up to 90% of infected persons. It is one of the world’s most infectious diseases. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients. 

In the current outbreak in West Africa, about 47% of persons infected with the disease have died. The current outbreak in West Africa is affecting Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The United States and Spain are also dealing with imported cases. WHO has declared end of Ebola outbreak in Nigeria and Senegal. DRC is facing an outbreak separate to the one in West Africa. Mali confirmed its first Ebola case, a two-year-old child from Guinea, this week. 

As of 19 October, 9998 people have been infected with Ebola and 4645 have died, including 258 deaths of health workers. 

For more information, please visit: More or contact Viivi Erkkilä, Communications, Partnership and Resource Mobilization, WHO Ethiopia, Email:  erkkilav [at] who.inttarget="_blank" , Tel: (+251) 11 553 4777  

Photo:  WHO Ethiopia/ Viivi Erkkila

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