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UK government must do more to help fight the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone UK government must do more to help fight the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone
(about 20 hours later)
We are a network of UK-based organisations and individuals working to improve health in Sierra Leone. The Ebola outbreak is the greatest humanitarian threat the country has faced since its devastating civil war and we welcome the highly committed response to the crisis from both the secretary of state for international development, Justine Greening, and from the UK government as a whole.We are a network of UK-based organisations and individuals working to improve health in Sierra Leone. The Ebola outbreak is the greatest humanitarian threat the country has faced since its devastating civil war and we welcome the highly committed response to the crisis from both the secretary of state for international development, Justine Greening, and from the UK government as a whole.
To ensure as much benefit is gained from these commitments as possible, we the undersigned members and friends of the UK-Sierra Leone Health Partners Network would like to bring to the UK government’s attention our following concerns, and call upon the secretary of state for international development to raise them further with relevant cabinet ministers:To ensure as much benefit is gained from these commitments as possible, we the undersigned members and friends of the UK-Sierra Leone Health Partners Network would like to bring to the UK government’s attention our following concerns, and call upon the secretary of state for international development to raise them further with relevant cabinet ministers:
First, the withdrawal of Gambia Bird flight permits. The decision by the UK government to halt direct flights between London and Freetown was ill advised and contradicts travel advice from the WHO and the Foreign Office. Forcing people from the UK to travel to west Africa via Europe significantly impedes efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and monitor returning travellers. This knee-jerk response is putting UK nationals on the ground at risk by leaving them under-equipped and understaffed, putting our own population at greater risk by undermining efforts to tackle Ebola at its source, and having a devastating impact on the Sierra Leonean economy. We call upon the UK government to reinstate direct flights between the UK and Sierra Leone.First, the withdrawal of Gambia Bird flight permits. The decision by the UK government to halt direct flights between London and Freetown was ill advised and contradicts travel advice from the WHO and the Foreign Office. Forcing people from the UK to travel to west Africa via Europe significantly impedes efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and monitor returning travellers. This knee-jerk response is putting UK nationals on the ground at risk by leaving them under-equipped and understaffed, putting our own population at greater risk by undermining efforts to tackle Ebola at its source, and having a devastating impact on the Sierra Leonean economy. We call upon the UK government to reinstate direct flights between the UK and Sierra Leone.
Second, slow scale-up of bed numbers and coverage. A recent paper in The Lancet claimed we face a “rapidly closing window of opportunity for controlling the outbreak and averting a catastrophic toll of Ebola cases and deaths”. The 1,700 beds pledged by the US to Liberia are less than half the 4,800 required by mid-November to rapidly control the disease, and requirements rise exponentially as each week passes. The large treatment centres being built in permanent structures by the UK in Sierra Leone are essential, but alone are insufficient as they are time-consuming to erect and offer limited coverage. The deployment of low-tech treatment centres in local areas is the only way to achieve the rapid scale-up of capacity required. We understand the UK is beginning to adopt this approach which is encouraging, but much more needs to be done to avoid further catastrophic loss of life. We call upon the UK government to increase the use of low-tech facilities in local areas.Second, slow scale-up of bed numbers and coverage. A recent paper in The Lancet claimed we face a “rapidly closing window of opportunity for controlling the outbreak and averting a catastrophic toll of Ebola cases and deaths”. The 1,700 beds pledged by the US to Liberia are less than half the 4,800 required by mid-November to rapidly control the disease, and requirements rise exponentially as each week passes. The large treatment centres being built in permanent structures by the UK in Sierra Leone are essential, but alone are insufficient as they are time-consuming to erect and offer limited coverage. The deployment of low-tech treatment centres in local areas is the only way to achieve the rapid scale-up of capacity required. We understand the UK is beginning to adopt this approach which is encouraging, but much more needs to be done to avoid further catastrophic loss of life. We call upon the UK government to increase the use of low-tech facilities in local areas.
Third, expensive transportation costs. Many of our network organisations, including diaspora groups and charities, have significant resources at their disposal that they struggle to deliver because of extortionate logistical costs. The UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs can provide a cost-effective and efficient humanitarian relief supply chain via companies such as DHL when called upon to act by member states. This has yet to be done and is a significant barrier to relief efforts. We call upon the UK government to lobby the UN to provide logistical support for the delivery of humanitarian aid.Third, expensive transportation costs. Many of our network organisations, including diaspora groups and charities, have significant resources at their disposal that they struggle to deliver because of extortionate logistical costs. The UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs can provide a cost-effective and efficient humanitarian relief supply chain via companies such as DHL when called upon to act by member states. This has yet to be done and is a significant barrier to relief efforts. We call upon the UK government to lobby the UN to provide logistical support for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Fourth, fragile health systems. This unprecedented outbreak is the result of a “perfect storm” of several underlying conditions, the most critical of which is the weakness of local health systems. Sierra Leone has about 120 doctors for 6 million people. The UK has supported ambitious government health reforms in the past and impressive progress has been made, but Ebola has pushed the health system to breaking point. Unless a comprehensive response to this crisis is adopted, health services will collapse entirely, resulting in a public health disaster that will eclipse the Ebola outbreak itself and provide the perfect incubator for further outbreaks. As the leader of the international response in Sierra Leone, the UK must ensure the unprecedented international attention and resources support long-term efforts to strengthen all aspects of the health system, in collaboration with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation. We call upon the UK government to support long-term, sustainable efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s health system to avert an impending public health disaster.Sir James MellonFormer high commissioner of the UK to Ghana, Vice-president, St Andrew’s Clinic for Children (STACC)Professor John ReesEmeritus professor of medical education, King’s College LondonProfessor David LloydChair, The Waterloo Partnership, Emeritus professor, University of Liverpool, Past-president, British Association of Paediatric SurgeonsProfessor Peter HolmesEmeritus professor, University of Glasgow, Chair, St Andrew’s Clinic for Children (STACC)Professor David CromptonEmeritus professor, University of GlasgowAde DaramyChair, UK Sierra Leone Ebola TaskforceDavid M HolmesRetired chair, Kambia-Gloucestershire Hospitals NHSFT LinkDr Danny McLernon-BillowsCoordinator, UKSLHPEdward BlandfordCoordinator, UKSLHPDr Edward ColeChair, Masanga Hospital International Board, CEO, Sierra Leone Adventists AbroadElizabeth ContehChair, The Organisation of Sierra Leonean Health Professionals AbroadGeoff EatonTrustee, Masanga UKJacqui BoultonCo-founder and trustee, UK Friends of The Shepherds Hospice, Sierra LeoneDr Mary HodgesVice-president, St Andrews Clinic for Children-Sierra LeoneDr Matthew ClarkCo-founder, Welbodi PartnershipRalph SwannCoordinator, UKSLHPRichard Kerr-WilsonTrustee, Kambia AppealRobin GrayHon sec, Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship LinkRuth CecilChair, UK Friends of the Shepherd’s Hospice, Sierra LeoneShona LockyerChair of trustees, The Kambia AppealMark WhitbyPresident of board of trustees, The Construction and Development Partnership, SLValerie TuckerCountry manager, IPAS Sierra LeoneAmar NathwaniUKSLHP memberAmelia CookMedical student, King’s College LondonAnne BarrySurgical practitioner, Hinchingbrooke NHS TrustCaroline BakerOptions Consultancy Services LtdChristine Boulton-LaneHastings Sierra Leone Friendship LinkEmily BellProgramme manager, Sound Seekers, UCL Ear InstituteDarsha PatelUKSLHP memberDr Frederick NyeUKSLHP memberGemma CookPhysiotherapy coordinator, King’s Sierra Leone PartnershipJagruti PatelTrustee, Better Lives FoundationJamie PatelIT consultantJenifa JeyakumarUKSLHP memberKantilal MistryUKSLHP memberKatrina HannResearch consultant, Sierra LeoneKomal PatelSenior clinical pharmacist, NHSKrushna PatelPharmacy assistantMathew BartleyDirector, BartleyHealth LtdMax Manning-LoweAdministrator, King’s Sierra Leone PartnershipNainesh PatelLead pharmacist, Better Lives FoundationDr Natalie GulliverKing’s Sierra Leone PartnershipDr Natalie Nairi QuinnCareer development fellow in economics, University of OxfordDr Peter BakerPublic health speciality registrar, Volunteer epidemiologist for King’s Sierra Leone PartnershipRonald G SmithRetired fellow, American College of Dentists, International Association of Oral Maxillofacial SurgerySara NamTechnical specialist reproductive and sexual health, Options Consultancy LtdDr Shona JohnstonPaediatric registrar and VSO volunteerSneha BaljekarNursing student, King’s College LondonDr Tom PearsonGeneral practitioner, NHSTushar TrivediPharmacist, Better Lives FoundationUriben PatelUKSLHP memberVanessa AdamsSouth Wales-Sierra Leone Cancer CareYoges YogendranUKSLHP member Fourth, fragile health systems. This unprecedented outbreak is the result of a “perfect storm” of several underlying conditions, the most critical of which is the weakness of local health systems. Sierra Leone has about 120 doctors for 6 million people. The UK has supported ambitious government health reforms in the past and impressive progress has been made, but Ebola has pushed the health system to breaking point. Unless a comprehensive response to this crisis is adopted, health services will collapse entirely, resulting in a public health disaster that will eclipse the Ebola outbreak itself and provide the perfect incubator for further outbreaks. As the leader of the international response in Sierra Leone, the UK must ensure the unprecedented international attention and resources support long-term efforts to strengthen all aspects of the health system, in collaboration with the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and Sanitation. We call upon the UK government to support long-term, sustainable efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s health system to avert an impending public health disaster.Dr Oliver JohnsonKing’s Sierra Leone PartnersSir James MellonFormer high commissioner of the UK to Ghana, Vice-president, St Andrew’s Clinic for Children (STACC)Professor John ReesEmeritus professor of medical education, King’s College LondonProfessor David LloydChair, The Waterloo Partnership, Emeritus professor, University of Liverpool, Past-president, British Association of Paediatric SurgeonsProfessor Peter HolmesEmeritus professor, University of Glasgow, Chair, St Andrew’s Clinic for Children (STACC)Professor David CromptonEmeritus professor, University of GlasgowAde DaramyChair, UK Sierra Leone Ebola TaskforceDavid M HolmesRetired chair, Kambia-Gloucestershire Hospitals NHSFT LinkDr Danny McLernon-BillowsCoordinator, UKSLHPEdward BlandfordCoordinator, UKSLHPDr Edward ColeChair, Masanga Hospital International Board, CEO, Sierra Leone Adventists AbroadElizabeth ContehChair, The Organisation of Sierra Leonean Health Professionals AbroadGeoff EatonTrustee, Masanga UKJacqui BoultonCo-founder and trustee, UK Friends of The Shepherds Hospice, Sierra LeoneDr Mary HodgesVice-president, St Andrews Clinic for Children-Sierra LeoneDr Matthew ClarkCo-founder, Welbodi PartnershipRalph SwannCoordinator, UKSLHPRichard Kerr-WilsonTrustee, Kambia AppealRobin GrayHon sec, Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship LinkRuth CecilChair, UK Friends of the Shepherd’s Hospice, Sierra LeoneShona LockyerChair of trustees, The Kambia AppealMark WhitbyPresident of board of trustees, The Construction and Development Partnership, SLValerie TuckerCountry manager, IPAS Sierra LeoneAmar NathwaniUKSLHP memberAmelia CookMedical student, King’s College LondonAnne BarrySurgical practitioner, Hinchingbrooke NHS TrustCaroline BakerOptions Consultancy Services LtdChristine Boulton-LaneHastings Sierra Leone Friendship LinkEmily BellProgramme manager, Sound Seekers, UCL Ear InstituteDarsha PatelUKSLHP memberDr Frederick NyeUKSLHP memberGemma CookPhysiotherapy coordinator, King’s Sierra Leone PartnershipJagruti PatelTrustee, Better Lives FoundationJamie PatelIT consultantJenifa JeyakumarUKSLHP memberKantilal MistryUKSLHP memberKatrina HannResearch consultant, Sierra LeoneKomal PatelSenior clinical pharmacist, NHSKrushna PatelPharmacy assistantMathew BartleyDirector, BartleyHealth LtdMax Manning-LoweAdministrator, King’s Sierra Leone PartnershipNainesh PatelLead pharmacist, Better Lives FoundationDr Natalie GulliverKing’s Sierra Leone PartnershipDr Natalie Nairi QuinnCareer development fellow in economics, University of OxfordDr Peter BakerPublic health speciality registrar, Volunteer epidemiologist for King’s Sierra Leone PartnershipRonald G SmithRetired fellow, American College of Dentists, International Association of Oral Maxillofacial SurgerySara NamTechnical specialist reproductive and sexual health, Options Consultancy LtdDr Shona JohnstonPaediatric registrar and VSO volunteerSneha BaljekarNursing student, King’s College LondonDr Tom PearsonGeneral practitioner, NHSTushar TrivediPharmacist, Better Lives FoundationUriben PatelUKSLHP memberVanessa AdamsSouth Wales-Sierra Leone Cancer CareYoges YogendranUKSLHP member