Treating Those Treating Ebola in Liberia

NEW YORK TIMES                                  Nov. 6, 2014
By Sheri FInk, MD
HARBEL, Liberia — As the number of people sickened with Ebolasoared this summer, American and Liberian officials faced a new challenge: How could they encourage international medical workers, understandably frightened about the risks, to come help fight the disease? The officials knew they would have to provide some assurances to the workers that they would be cared for if they fell ill.

Their answer, a dedicated Ebola field hospital for health workers, is scheduled to open soon outside Monrovia, the capital.

American health care workers and members of the United States Public Health Service who will work at a new hospital were briefed upon arrival in Liberia. Credit Tanya Bindra for The New York Times

The facility was originally a modular trauma hospital installed by the United States military over more than a month at a cost of $10.4 million. It has been modified to house up to 25 infectious patients near the international airport here, about 35 miles east of Monrovia. It will be staffed by 69 members of the United States Public Health Service, who will treat health care workers from abroad as well as from Liberia. More than 150 Liberian medical workers have died from Ebola.

“All of us here are trying to convey to the world that you can come here as a health care worker and provide care that’s greatly needed, and if something were to happen to you, we’ll give you the best care,” said Cmdr. Jamal K. Gwathney, a family-medicine doctor and the team’s chief of operations.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/world/africa/treating-those-treating-ebola-in-liberia.html?_r=0