Ebola Crisis in West Africa - Emergency Medical Care - Doctors Without Borders 2014

November 2014 - On August 8 2014 the World Health Organization declared the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa an international health emergency. The Ebola outbreak started in Guinea and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. There have been over 15 000 cases of Ebola virus in Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone to date including more than 5 400 deaths. The current outbreak is unprecedented in terms of its scale geographic reach humanitarian impact as well as its social and economic repercussions. The number of cases and deaths surpass all previous Ebola epidemics combined. With DFATD’s support Doctors without Borders is helping to reduce and control the spread of the Ebola virus in Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone and provide care to those affected. Project activities include: (1) establishing of Ebola treatment centres; (2) providing medical and psychological care to patients families and communities; and (3) providing training to medical and support staff to better manage the EVD and understand how EVD transmission occurs.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) adequate isolation and protection measures are in place to break the chain of transmission; (2) increased medical and psychological care and services are provided to patients the family and communities; and (3) enhanced ability of medical and support staff to manage the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and to prevent EVD transmission. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or acute food insecurity.