TVC NEWS [ABUJA]- The deadly Ebola virus continues to take its toll in West Africa and no one is immune
People get infected through close contact with an infected person, family member or friend and those most vulnerable are the caregivers
especially health workers who have to deal with stabilizing and treating the infected.
Now the question is how much is being done by Governments to guarantee the safety of these health workers who are putting their lives on the line to do their jobs.
Kemi Balogun takes a look at this critical issue making the rounds and reports that since the Ebola outbreak began in March this year, over 900 people have died from the disease in these countries: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and also Nigeria.
Once a person gets infected they have a 60 to 90 percent chance of dying and so far a considerable fraction of the dead have been that of health workers.
According to the center of diseases control and prevention(CDC), over a hundred (100) health care workers have been infected and about half of that number have died from the virus.
Among the dead, is one of sierra leone's top Ebola doctor,Sheik Khan who was dedicated to fighting and stopping its spread.
Two American doctors kent Bradley and nancy writebol have also been infected by the disease and are currently undergoing treatment in
Atlanta,US.
The US have also sent an additional 50 health workers to help fight the disease in west Africa.
Laiatu Balogun is a retired nurse she had worked in the health service for about 32 years.
She tells us how they had coped with epidemics back in the days and what should be put in place to safe guard the lives of other health workers now
She believes there are easy methods to protecting ones self while treating a patient who is suspected to be carrying the virus even before
the diagnosis
Nigeria's health minister says they will need a lot of funds in order to acquire safety kits for the health workers as well as build safe centers
for those infected
With health workers being mostly in the fore front of most epidemics and outbreaks.
The world health organization says that:
Health-care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus should apply, in addition to standard precautions, other
infection control measures to avoid any exposure to the patient's blood and body fluids and direct unprotected contact with the possibly
contaminated environment. When in close contact (within 1 metre) of patients with EBV, health-care workers should wear face protection (a
face shield or a medical mask and goggles), a clean, non-sterile long-sleeved gown, and gloves (sterile gloves for some procedures).
People get infected through close contact with an infected person, family member or friend and those most vulnerable are the caregivers
especially health workers who have to deal with stabilizing and treating the infected.
Now the question is how much is being done by Governments to guarantee the safety of these health workers who are putting their lives on the line to do their jobs.
Kemi Balogun takes a look at this critical issue making the rounds and reports that since the Ebola outbreak began in March this year, over 900 people have died from the disease in these countries: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and also Nigeria.
Once a person gets infected they have a 60 to 90 percent chance of dying and so far a considerable fraction of the dead have been that of health workers.
According to the center of diseases control and prevention(CDC), over a hundred (100) health care workers have been infected and about half of that number have died from the virus.
Among the dead, is one of sierra leone's top Ebola doctor,Sheik Khan who was dedicated to fighting and stopping its spread.
Two American doctors kent Bradley and nancy writebol have also been infected by the disease and are currently undergoing treatment in
Atlanta,US.
The US have also sent an additional 50 health workers to help fight the disease in west Africa.
Laiatu Balogun is a retired nurse she had worked in the health service for about 32 years.
She tells us how they had coped with epidemics back in the days and what should be put in place to safe guard the lives of other health workers now
She believes there are easy methods to protecting ones self while treating a patient who is suspected to be carrying the virus even before
the diagnosis
Nigeria's health minister says they will need a lot of funds in order to acquire safety kits for the health workers as well as build safe centers
for those infected
With health workers being mostly in the fore front of most epidemics and outbreaks.
The world health organization says that:
Health-care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus should apply, in addition to standard precautions, other
infection control measures to avoid any exposure to the patient's blood and body fluids and direct unprotected contact with the possibly
contaminated environment. When in close contact (within 1 metre) of patients with EBV, health-care workers should wear face protection (a
face shield or a medical mask and goggles), a clean, non-sterile long-sleeved gown, and gloves (sterile gloves for some procedures).
