Guernsey donates £50,000 for PPE to help combat Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo
- Guernsey's Overseas Aid & Development Commission awards £50,000 to Medair UK for PPE supplies
- WHO declared DRC Ebola outbreak an international public health emergency on 17 May
- Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine and fatality rate of up to 50 per cent
- By 26 May, WHO reported 246 probable deaths, 121 confirmed cases and 10,776 suspected cases
- Funds will protect frontline health workers and responders at heightened risk of infection
Guernsey's Overseas Aid & Development Commission has awarded a £50,000 grant to Medair UK to support efforts to mitigate the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo through the urgent provision of personal protective equipment.
The World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC an international public health emergency on 17 May.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has also spread to Uganda, has no vaccine and a fatality rate of up to 50 per cent. The virus is deadly, contagious and at high risk of spreading to other neighbouring countries. By 26 May, the WHO reported 246 probable deaths, 121 confirmed cases and 10,776 suspected cases.
Lack of swift identification, testing and referrals, poor sanitation, inadequate infection prevention in health clinics, and poor funeral practices are contributing to the spread of the disease.
The £50,000 donation will fund PPE supplies, which are critical for protecting frontline workers and enabling them to safely deliver essential care. Health workers and frontline responders are at heightened risk, with a high proportion among the first victims of this outbreak.
Deputy Jennifer Strachan, president of the Overseas Aid & Development Commission, said: "In the DRC today, thousands of families are living through fear, loss and unimaginable hardship.
"Behind every news headline or statistic is a person - a parent, a child or a caregiver - caught in the path of this Ebola outbreak that is having devastating effects on the country. The scale of suffering will be difficult to grasp from afar, but its human cost is real and profound.
"Our island has experienced firsthand the power of 'pandemic preparedness'; particularly the ability to protect healthcare workers and prevent the spread of infection. We know what it means to rely on those who stand on the front line, and we know how vital it is that they are properly equipped.
"This donation will fund essential PPE which will protect health and care workers, and those handling the deceased.
"These individuals are working under enormous pressure, in extremely difficult conditions, to prevent further spread. Their protection is paramount, and this investment will help prevent this from becoming a global crisis.
"Ebola is not just the DRC's problem. Infectious diseases do not respect borders, as we learned all too well during the Covid-19 pandemic. This donation shows that our compassion and our solidarity will extend beyond our shores at times of crisis."
Q&A
Q: How much has Guernsey donated to the Ebola crisis response?
A: Guernsey's Overseas Aid & Development Commission has awarded a grant of £50,000 to Medair UK to support the provision of personal protective equipment for frontline workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Q: What strain of Ebola is affecting the DRC?
A: The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no vaccine and a fatality rate of up to 50 per cent. The virus has also spread to Uganda and is at high risk of spreading to other neighbouring countries.
Q: How severe is the current outbreak?
A: As of 26 May, the World Health Organisation reported 246 probable deaths, 121 confirmed cases and 10,776 suspected cases. The WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency on 17 May.
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