Israeli medics at work. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of Israel GPO. By Kobi Gideon / GPO.
Israel is on the front lines of a lot of challenges, and now they’re joining another—the battle with Ebola. According to a press release on the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Israel’s government is sending mobile field hospitals to the African nations most affected by the virus. In addition, the Israelis are setting up a forum for organizations interested in helping fight Ebola that will meet later this month. The field hospitals will be sent to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, according to the press release. Protection gear and isolation units will be the focus of the mission, in light of the dangers of infection.
Israel has sent special medical teams to multiple other nations in crisis before, including Haiti after the earthquake there in 2010, for which they received international praise for their efforts.
In light of the global risk of Ebola, Israel also has developed plans to handle Ebola in their own nation if necessary.
In a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office earlier this month, Health Ministry Director General Prof. Arnon Afek was quoted as saying, “The healthcare system is monitoring the Ebola issue and is in contact with experts around the world. We are improving the preparedness of the healthcare system in order to be able to deal with any people stricken with Ebola should they arrive in Israel.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, October 21, 2014)