The United Nations has strengthened the preparedness and response of Gambia against the highly contagious Ebola virus. They did this through their health arm, the World Health Organization in Banjul. The health body presented various preventive medical items and other medical supplies to the Ministry of Heaalth.
Donating
the supplies at the WHO office in Kotu on Tuesday, the WHO country
representative, Dr. Charles Sagoe-Moses said they were meant to support
their preparedness and response efforts against Ebola. The supplies were
received by the Health minister, Omar Sey and included over 42 boxes
(4000 sets) of personal protective
equipment, 2000 copies of posters on the prevention and control of Ebola
virus disease, 2500 copies of leaflets of Ebola virus disease, 2000
copies of fact sheet on the disease, 2000 copies of Ebola virus disease
guidelines for health workers, 200 copies of handbook on the disease
amongst others. Other West African countries have been initiating
various preventive strategies since the outbreak of the disease in
Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Dr.
Charles congratulated the Health
minister for their timely responses to Republic of Guinea and other
neighboring African countries where there have been confirmed cases of
the killer disease. This according to him, shows the number of
preparatory measures already put in place to
protect the country against contagious diseases. Some of these
strategies involved strengthening national surveillances and adopting
other preventive and response mechanism with a view to meeting the
challenge in case of emergencies.
He maintained that the UN is of the view that an emergency of this nature poses
far-reaching health, economic and social implications for individuals,
families, the health system and the country at large. According to him,
"This is the reason why the United Nations deems it fitting to respond
as a single entity to these challenges rather than intervening within
our individual domains. The joint effort of the United Nations system
began at the very onset when The Gambia declared a state of preparedness
for Ebola three months ago. Since then, the United Nations began
working closely with the Ministry of Health to put in place a number of
measures including supporting the development and implementation of
National Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Response Plan and also
training of trainers for doctors and nurses amongst others." Dr.
Sagoe-Moses further disclosed that the UN is also providing detergents
and other sanitary supplies for infection control as well as
strengthening public awareness and social mobilisation against Ebola
through the media and at community levels.
He said: "The UN is also mobilising
further resources to purchase some of the essential drugs needed in an
emergency of this nature and to conduct cascade training for health
workers in all health regions to further equip their front-line workers,"
The Gambia's Health minister, Omar Sey, said the "timely" gesture will help to
prevent the disease from entering the country. He therefore commended the UN
system through WHO for the intervention. "Yes we don't have Ebola in the
country, but there is no room for complacency," he warned.
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