Ebola outbreak: Cuba to send health professionals to West Africa

Geneva, Sep 12: World Health Organisation on Friday announced that Cuba is to send 165 health professionals to combat the

outbreak in West

.

The group, which includes physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, specialists in infection control, intensive care specialists and social mobilisation officers, will be concentrated in Sierra Leone.

Cuban Health Minister Roberto Morales Orjeda coordinated the process of sending the health workers with WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, media reported.

"If we are going to go to war with Ebola, we need the resources to fight. I am extremely grateful for the generosity of the Cuban government and these health professionals for doing their part to help us contain the worst Ebola outbreak ever known. This will make a significant difference in Sierra Leone," Chan said.

"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," she added.

Cuban medical workers, who already have professional experience in Africa, will be sent to Sierra Leone in October and will remain there for six months.

The health minister explained that Cuba already has 23 health workers in Sierra Leone, which was why he decided to concentrate the aid there.

Orjeda said that the health brigade would consist of 62 doctors and 103 nurses, all of whom have 15 years of experience.

They have also worked in other countries at the time of natural and epidemiological disasters, he added.

Cuba also has another contingent of 16 health professionals in Guinea, one of the countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak.

OneIndia News