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Cuba Contributing 165 health workers to Sierra Leone, But WHO Says 1500 Needed

September 12, 2014

Cuba’s health minister, Robert Morales Ojeda, has announced today that the country will be sending 165 doctors, nurses, and infection control specialists to Sierra Leone to help control the spread of the Ebola virus disease.

Mr. Ojeda said that the health workers will begin arriving in Sierra Leone in early October and will be deployed for a planned six months.

Cuba’s health minister, Robert Morales Ojeda, has announced today that the country will be sending 165 doctors, nurses, and infection control specialists to Sierra Leone to help control the spread of the Ebola virus disease.

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Ebola aid worker

Mr. Ojeda said that the health workers will begin arriving in Sierra Leone in early October and will be deployed for a planned six months.

According to The Nation, Chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), Margaret Chan, has warmly greeted the news and recognized Cuba for its record in contributing to humanitarian efforts around the world by deploying world-class medical professionals.

However, Chan warned that 1500 more medical professionals were needed to contain the spread of Ebola in West Africa, and Liberia-which has been hit hardest-does not have a single bed available for sick Ebola patients.

To date, over 2,400 people have died from the Ebola outbreak, with over 4,700 recorded infections.

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PUBLIC HEALTH