The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern – only the third time in its history it has made such a declaration. Despite this, the international effort to stem the Ebola outbreak has been ‘dangerously inadequate.’ (MSF August 2014).
Exponential growth
On 25 March the WHO reported a rash of cases of Ebola in Guinea, the first such ever seen in West Africa. At that point there had been 86 suspected cases, and there were reports of suspected cases in the neighbouring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia as well. The death toll was 60.
On 22 October the WHO released its latest update. Cases are ‘increasing exponentially’ and are likely being under-reported. The outbreak has now seen 9,936 cases of Ebola, almost all of which have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The current death toll is 4,877. WHO fears it could see between 5,000 and 10,000 new cases reported a week by the beginning of December; that is, as many cases each week as have been seen in the entire outbreak up to this point.
Like many global emergencies, it is hitting the most vulnerable. The three countries affected are some of the poorest in the world, with health systems that were already fragile and failing. Sierra Leone’s population of 6 million is served by about 120 doctors. A number of them have died of Ebola, including the only haemorrhagic fever specialist. In Liberia, which has one doctor for every 70,000 people, the chief medical officer placed herself under quarantine after her office assistant died of Ebola this month.
But in contrast to other emergencies, the international response has also been slow and fearful. One western health NGO said that fewer than ten US doctors had volunteered, compared with more than 400 during the 2010 Haiti crisis. A spokesman from Save the Children said that in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan hitting the Philippines there weren’t enough seats on the planes for all of the international volunteers, but when he asked 28 logisticians to travel to the Ebola-affected countries, 21 said no. It seems that people flock to help in earthquakes, floods and hurricanes, but when it comes to Ebola, no one wants to go.
The ultimate sacrifice
Many national healthcare workers have been courageous; tragically, over 240 doctors and nurses have died. Two Nigerian doctors lost their lives containing the outbreak in Lagos. Ameyo Adadevoh and Amos Abaniwo were both infected while detaining an agitated patient who was refusing to remain in quarantine. As a result of their sacrifice, the outbreak has been contained in Nigeria and there have been no new cases for six weeks. Sierra Leone lost Dr Olivet Buck in September; she was the Secretary of the Christian Medical Association of Health Workers and the lead PRIME tutor for Sierra Leone.
Many of those who have died have been working with insufficient protective equipment and supplies. Other staff are also at risk: The Guardian tells the story of an ambulance driver at Sierra Leone’s colonial-built Connaught hospital offloading a suspected Ebola patient, wearing only a plastic apron for protection. ‘A trail of water flowed out of the open isolation unit door into corridors lined with posters of nurses and doctors who had died of the disease. “We really don’t have the equipment to feel 100% secure, but what else can we do? We need to help these people,” the ambulance driver said as he hosed himself down later.’
So what can we do?
We may feel helpless in the face of such an overwhelming crisis, but there are things we can all do to help: going, giving, praying and supporting.
Going
- Save the Children are recruiting doctors and other healthcare workers to staff their new treatment centre in Sierra Leone.
- The Christian Hospital Association of Liberia is in urgent need of staff for hospitals that are struggling to maintain a service for non-Ebola patients. Babies are still being born; people are still catching malaria, pneumonia and TB; they all need care.
- The NHS is supporting staff that want to volunteer; they should register with the UK International Emergency Medical Register (UKIEMR). Over 800 NHS staff have volunteered, which is encouraging, but as new treatment centres are built and as case numbers rise, many more will be needed for months to come. Several CMF members are planning to go – one is leaving in two weeks’ time. I would be keen to hear from any others who are going.
- Non-NHS staff can subscribe to the Ebola Response Register at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
CMF STAT list – Short-term, Able to Travel
This is a list of over 400 CMF members who receive email alerts when needs for short-term help arise. Some of these are in emergency situations such as this one; others are needs for locums and help with training courses. If you would like to be on the list, email Vicky Lavy.
Giving
Funds are desperately needed to build and equip new treatment centres. A number of organisations are running appeals; these include Samaritans Purse, Red Cross and Save the Children.
King’s College – Sierra Leone Partnershiphas access to a pool of highly qualified infectious disease specialists. They need funds to cover their basic costs and provide personal protection suits. Watch Dr Oliver Johnson from Kings speaking from Connaught Hospital in Freetown.
Praying
One resource we all have is prayer. Wouldn’t it be good if CMF’s 5,700 members committed to pray regularly for those affected and those working to help? Women of Hope International has produced a helpful prayer guide.
Supporting
Interhealth Worldwide is an international health charity providing healthcare for missionaries and humanitarian workers. Their workload has increased dramatically as a result of the Ebola crisis and they are looking for doctors and nurses who could help on a part-time basis either in their clinic in London, or working remotely by phone and email.
Interhealth also provides information updates and training.
Five minutes to help research
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) at the University of Liverpool is undertaking a survey of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to hear their thoughts about helping with the Ebola outbreak. The results will help to identify and, therefore address any modifiable barriers that affect volunteering. Filling it in is a small contribution we can all make.
This is an international health crisis such as the world has not seen for decades. It is affecting some of the poorest people on the planet. We are among the richest, both in finances and in training. As Christian health workers, we have to respond in some way. We can’t do everything, but we mustn’t do nothing.
Posted by Dr Vicky Lavy
CMF Head of International Ministries
Read also: Responding to the Ebola epidemic – What would Jesus do? by Dr Catriona Waitt