World Vision welcomes the Australian Government’s commitment of up to $24 million in additional funding to respond to the deadly Ebola virus, announced by the Prime Minister and Minister for Health today.
The funding will help support the establishment of a treatment facility in Sierra Leone and the deployment of technical experts to support efforts to prevent and control the spread of the virus.
“With the world in a race against time to contain the Ebola outbreak, it’s encouraging to see the Australian Government demonstrating ongoing commitment to this issue,” said World Vision Australia’s Chief Executive, Tim Costello.
The Government has helped pave the way for Australian volunteers to join Ebola response efforts in West Africa, through obtaining credible assurances for them to receive in-country treatment and medical evacuation as required.
“I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Government in seeking assurances that Australians volunteering in Ebola-affected countries, who put their lives at risk, will receive treatment and evacuation as required.”
But Mr Costello also warned that far more needs to be done to tackle this unprecedented crisis. The international community must respond in a number of ways to effectively prevent and contain the spread of Ebola.
“While front-line medical assistance is essential, so too are measures to effectively prevent and contain the spread of Ebola.It’s critical that we are also training health care workers in prevention and control measures, implementing community-based awareness and prevention campaigns and strengthening fragile healthcare systems that have been strained by the scale of the outbreak.”
World Vision is scaling up its response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone, with a major campaign to raise awareness in affected communities about how they can identify the symptoms of Ebola, prevent the spread of the deadly virus and seek treatment if needed. WV is also providing food and other practical and psychological support to children who have lost their parents to the virus.
World Vision has already distributed a planeload of five million items of protective clothing and equipment to health centres across Sierra Leone, and is training 750 health workers in prevention and control measures.
Tim Costello is available for interviews. Media contact: Kayla Robertson – 0418 762 926 /kayla.robertson@worldvision.com.au