New York, US (PANA) – The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) said Friday that the Government of Cuba has provided 165 health professionals, comprising physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, specialists in infection control, intensive care specialists and social mobilization officers, to support Ebola response in West Africa.
In a WHO statement, Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, thanked the Cuban government for its generosity, noting that the health professionals it is providing will make a significant difference.
“The thing we need most of all, is people, healthcare workers. I hope the announcement today (Friday) by the Cuban government will stimulate more countries to surge their support,” she stated.
She disclosed that the WHO Ebola response roadmap, released on 28 August, highlights the need for a massively scaled response to support affected countries.
“The commitment from the Cuban government exemplifies the kind of international effort required to intensify response activities and strengthen national capacities.
“Cuba is world-famous for its ability to train outstanding doctors and nurses and for its generosity in helping fellow countries on the route to progress,” Dr. Chan pointed out.
She said that the health professionals will be deployed to Sierra Leone at the beginning of October and work there for six months.
Dr. Chan also said that Ebola response needed more resources and international support to fight the spread, as well as address the challenges being faced by the affected countries.
WHO said the current Ebola outbreak is the largest, most severe and most complex in the history of the disease, and has killed over 2,200 people.
Photo: WHO
