Africa is ramping-up its responses to the Ebola virus. More than 600 medics are heading to Ebola-hit nations after the African Union made a plea for more help this week. However, many unforeseeable risks await them. CCTV America’s Katerina Vittozzi reports from central Liberia.
Central Liberia is home to an Ebola treatment unit. It’s run by the NGO International Medical Corps and funded by the United States. Thirty-two year old nurse Audrey Rangel arrived 6 weeks ago.
Rangel has worked as a nurse across the world in challenging environments. This, however, is the first time she’s worked in an epidemic.
“The scariest part the first time is getting undressed,” said Rangel. “Getting dressed is fine because you have time to look at what you are doing and make sure you are safe. But on the way out you are taking off the stuff you know has ebola, you know 100% you have just gone inside and touched a patient with ebola so that was really scary the first time. But you just get into the routine and you become really safe about it. So it’s not hard, it’s not challenging, challenging nursing work but it’s more the physical demands and getting used to the routine and it’s more the mental stuff that’s harder.”
Assistants help Rangel dress in PPE, personal protective equipment, with meticulous care. They cover every part of her. Once suited and booted, it’s time to head in to the high-risk unit.
Much of the job is basic nursing, which includes cleaning up patients and administering medicine, as well as getting messages to patients from loved ones outside.
How strong our Ethiopia’s defenses against Ebola?
The World Health Organisation recently warned that just two African countries are properly prepared to deal with an Ebola case: Algeria and Ethiopia.
So far, neither country has reported any scares. However, what exactly would happen if someone was sick and flew into Addis Ababa? CCTV America’s Girum Chala reports.
Jonathan Moreno explains the risks of starting an air travel ban
For more on the Ebola epidemic, CCTV America was joined by Jonathan Moreno. He’s a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
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