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Solidarity call for aid against impacts of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

October 23, 2014
The fight against Ebola in Guinea - Healthworkers in protective equipment
#protecthealthworkers - PSI is calling on all affiliates to donate to the PSI Aid Fund. The funds will be used for the immediate relief and assistance of our members and their families, especially in cases where health workers have died and their families have no access to social protection.

The outbreak of Ebola fever has already caused the death of 4877 people and 9936 may be infected according to the most recent World Health Organization report dated 22 October.

Deaths to health workers account for one in every ten who have died. Many PSI members have been killed in the line of duty.

PSI has been monitoring the situation since April, when the affiliates in the West African Health Sector Unions’ Network (WAHSUN) tried to raise the alarm. PSI is working with the ILO and WHO for urgent interventions to address the situation of health care workers.

“Health workers must have the tools to do their jobs. Our members are dying because of unsafe working conditions, this is criminal neglect,” warns PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli.

PSI affiliates throughout Africa, including in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, are mobilising their members against the spread of the disease, but they need the help of the PSI community.

PSI is now calling on all affiliates to donate to the PSI Aid Fund which will be used for the immediate relief and assistance of our members and their families, especially in cases where health workers have died and their families have no access to social protection.

In parallel, PSI is looking into medium and long-term projects to help affiliates ensure that all workers coming in contact with EVD be appropriately trained and protected, with access to necessary tools and personal protective equipment.

PSI will lobby national governments, regional organisations and multilateral and bilateral donors to ensure that these countries build public health infrastructure to provide universal health coverage and social protection systems that can provide for the families of workers killed in the line of duty.

We urge you to contribute. Details on how to contribute are available on our website, please remember to add “PSI Aid Fund – Ebola 2014” to your bank transfer.

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