Situation Update
With a death toll over 2,200 patients, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has expanded its threats to 11 countries from the West to the middle of the continent, From Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, to Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Central Africa Republic and Cameroon. Up to 7 September, 4,390 cumulative confirmed and suspected cases had been recorded, 2,266 had died. Sadly, within the numbers of infected over 300 were medical personnel fighting with Ebola of whom 140 lost their lives.
The highly contagious virus is spreading with ease especially in densely populated area with low public hygiene awareness and poor health care facilities. The closure of border and air routes imposed a devastating impact to the region, the needed supplies including medical equipments, even food and fuels cannot be transported timely into the region. The economies of the affected countries are badly affected. World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Red Cross continue to call for international aids to help to stop the largest Ebola outbreak in history.
Hong Kong Red Cross Actions
The Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) launched an emergency appeal to the Hong Kong public on 29 April to call for public support to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) emergency response and preparedness operations in West Africa. Thanks to the kind generosity of the Hong Kong public, as of 12 September, over HK$1,000,000 has been received.
As part of the support to the International Red Cross EVD emergency response and preparedness operations in Liberia, HKRC have deployed 4 volunteers and a staff in total to the country;
- 3 volunteer nurses from late April to late May
- 1 public health doctor and 1 clinical psychologist from late July to late August
All of them have completed their mission and returned to Hong Kong in good health. HKRC volunteer doctor and clinical psychologist who came back from Liberia in late August have already completed the 21-day medical surveillance and are proven to be free of risk of Ebola infection.
Red Cross Actions
International Red Cross appeals for HK$ 294 million aiming to reach over 26.9 million people in 4 countries including Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, as well to establish a strong regional support towards the operation in West Africa. Up to 10 September, only 23% of the appeal budget has been secured.
Over HK$4.8 million has been mobilized from the International Red Cross disaster relief response funds to assist community health and disease prevention programs in 7 countries including Mali, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Central African Republic and Cameroon, aiming to benefit over 16 million people.
Over 3,500 Red Cross volunteers and staff members have been mobilized in the operation, including over 130 international personnel since March 2014. Among them 5 are from Hong Kong. The trained Red Cross volunteers and staff members are working around the communities and to provide social mobilization activities, psychosocial support, dead body management, contact tracing, transport of the sick.
In Sierra Leone, trained Red Cross volunteers and staff members also provide clinical case management.
Enquiry
Please call 2802-0016, or fax to 2802-0017, or email to relief@redcross.org.hk.