The World Health Organization said its staff had seen evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths do not reflect the scale of the crisis and is co-ordinating a massive scaling up of the international response.
More than 300 patients have been admitted to MSF isolation centres in Sierra Leone. To date about 50 have recovered and returned home. A girl of 18 is being discharged after her recovery from the Ebola virus. That is the good news.
The WHO said that of the challenge was the fact that the outbreak was in "settings characterised by extreme poverty, dysfunctional health systems, a severe shortage of doctors and rampant fear".
To give you an idea of the difference between what we are used to in the UK and Sierra Leone, the last figures available, (2012) show that in Sierra Leone health spending per person was £58, in the UK it was £2197
That year Sierra Leone had 2.2 doctors for every 100,000 people. The UK had 279.
Resources in Sierra Leone are drained by malaria treatment and the economic effects of the civil war which ended in 2002.
Alpha Kargbo, our Development Director, says that the urgent need is economic, because people are told to stay in their homes. They cannot earn money. Petty trading is impossible. Shops are closed. Goods cannot be easily transported. The borders are closed. The price of everything, especially food, has gone up. I am looking at ways to send more than our normal payment of £600 to support the teachers in our schools.
Extra money would help families who have taken in extended family, such as orphaned grand-children, nephews and nieces. The children create problems as they become an extra burden in very difficult times. If you have ideas or can contribute in any way, please get in touch with me.
No comments:
Post a Comment