MSF_Canada

Jaime hasn't actually worked with Ebola patients but MSF currently has projects set up in the three countries in West Africa that are affected by the current Ebola epidemic; Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia: http://www.msf.ca/en/article/ebola-epidemic-guinea-%E2%80%9Cthere-no-treatment-and-no-vaccine-priority-isolate-suspected-cases%E2%80%9D

Here are some links to interviews with MSF doctor Tim Jagatic who has worked directly with Ebola patients in Guinea, he provides some great first-hand perspective.

• http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/canadian-doctor-on-front-lines-treating-ebola-patients-in-west-africa-1.1772863
• http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/54954008#54954008
• http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2014/05/14/windsor-doctor-returns-home-after-treating-deadly-ebola-outbreak/
• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/inside-the-tent-what-a-canadian-doctor-saw-on-the-frontline-of-west-africas-ebola-outbreak/article18091127/

Hey Toby, MSF does not recruit paramedics. We do recognise paramedics have a lot of valuable skills, but since MSF recruits internationally we recruit professions that are (more or less) standardised in different countries. Also the other big reason is that international fieldworkers are not doing hands on care most of the time. There is a lot of coordination, supervision, training and management involved too. Hope this helps. Cheers, Owen

Great answer Jaime. Also it's worth pointing out that upon return many countries have peer support networks where former MSF fieldworkers give informal support to people right when the get back. Often times talking to someone who has gone through something similar to you can be very helpful.

Hi Pamela, I will speak to the part about coming back to home (I worked for 2 years in DRC as a logistician). You are right it is difficult what we try and ask for is that people have already done some independent travel/volunteer/work abroad beforehand because we dont want your first culture shock (and return culture shock) to happen with MSF. In short I found it gets a bit easier each time and you use a lot of your fellow fieldworkers for support.

With so many people becoming infected and the inadequate response, potential spread throughout the region is a possibility. The population in this part of the world is very mobile within countries as well as across borders. The epidemic is spreading, as people continue to move into other countries within the region. We need an exceptional mobilization of all actors in the countries where the epidemic currently is so that we can stop the spread.

We have to remember that Ebola is a new disease in this region so it’s understandable that people are scared. There are quite a few organizations working to raise awareness about the disease, but they haven’t managed to reduce public anxiety around Ebola, and much more, has to be done in that sector. This should be done in a systematic way throughout the countries, using language that does not stir up panic but that informs people of the correct measures and actions to take. Ministries of Health should also support health workers as much as possible, by mobilizing all possible resources.

It’s understandable that the authorities are considering measures to prevent people from moving, but our fear is that it will be even more difficult to respond to the outbreak if people’s movements are restricted.