LONDON (AP) – Cuba’s health ministry said Friday it is sending more than 160 health workers to help stop the raging Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, providing a much-needed injection of medical expertise in a country where health workers are in short supply.
World Health Organization chief Dr. Margaret Chan said the agency was extremely grateful for the help.
“If we are going to go to war with Ebola, we need the resources to fight,” she said. “This will make a significant difference in Sierra Leone.”
While millions of dollars have already been pledged and countries including Britain and the U.S. have volunteered to build treatment centers, Chan said “human resources are most important,” noting a crucial need for experienced doctors and nurses across the region.
“There is not a single bed available for an Ebola patient in the entire country of Liberia,” she said, adding that a further 1,500 health workers are desperately needed in West Africa.