On May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Classified as high risk, the regional spread of this deadly virus continues to escalate, putting entire communities and local healthcare systems in jeopardy.
“Ebola carries a risk of death exceeding 50%, making it one of the deadliest infectious diseases known,” Dr. Alison Edwards, contracted Chief Medical Officer for Heart to Heart International (HHI), explained. “It is a severe, often fatal disease that puts patients, families, and especially frontline health workers at extraordinary risk.”
The Critical Need for PPE After Ebola Outbreak in Africa
As suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola virus continues to rise, HHI is taking swift action. We are responding to this disaster by shipping critical infection-prevention resources to support health partners through our trusted partners, World Emergency Relief.
Our current shipment includes:
- almost 10,000 N95 masks
- 6,000 hygiene kits
- Essential medical supplies (including thermometers, gloves and masks)
During Ebola outbreaks, health care workers have been 21 to 32 times more likely to become infected than the general population.
“Personal protective equipment—gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection—is the critical barrier that keeps health workers alive and able to care for patients,” said Dr. Edwards. “When PPE runs short, the outbreak accelerates and more lives are lost, and we lose the very people communities depend on to stop the outbreak. The ripple effects are devastating.”
A History of Proven Ebola Response
This isn’t our first time fighting this virus. HHI brings deep operational experience to this crisis, notably during the 2014 West Africa outbreak. In partnership with USAID, we established and operated an Ebola Treatment Unit in Liberia, delivering direct patient care and direct patient care and supporting of the local overwhelmed health systems. This history allows us to respond quickly and effectively today.
How You Can Help
Our Disaster Response Team is actively communicating with additional partners to assess needs. But we cannot do this alone. Your donation directly funds the shipment of these vital supplies, keeping healthcare workers safe and helping prevent a deadly virus from spreading further.
