The Red Cross is actively responding to the West Africa Ebola outbreak on all fronts, from treating patients through to providing public education and psychosocial support. Three aid workers from Quebec are the latest to join the global Red Cross effort. They just arrived in Kenema, Sierra Leone where they will spend the next month working at the
Red Cross Ebola Treatment Centre alongside other international aid workers and local healthcare personnel.
We asked public health physician Shelley-Rose Hyppolite, nurse Elizabeth Hinton and psychosocial support specialist Emilie Gauthier-Paré why they felt compelled to help stop the spread of Ebola.
Emilie says she had been “waiting for the call” and wanting to get involved since the epidemic began. She’s keen to lend her expertise and skills to help families cope with the emotional impact of the outbreak. Now she’s getting the chance to help where it’s so urgently needed.
“I want to make a difference in an ocean of needs,” she adds.
“If I’m not willing to go, then who will?” says Shelley-Rose of her decision to go work at the treatment centre for patients with Ebola, aware that many healthcare workers back home remain fearful.
She recently completed
Emergency Response Unit training with the Canadian Red Cross and is confident she has the necessary training to be able to assist in the Ebola outbreak.
Elizabeth has been pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support from the majority of her friends and family in response to her mission in Sierra Leone.
“I couldn’t imagine not being able help, knowing I have the training and skills.”
She has been preparing by reading and educating herself on
the facts about Ebola.
All three Canadian aid workers, who have all worked in a number of developing countries before, have received briefings and special training on
how to stay safe while working at the Ebola Treatment Centre.
The Canadian Red Cross is seeking personnel to continue these efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak. You can find more details at
redcross.ca/careers.
Canadians can help support these ongoing efforts by donating to the Canadian Red Cross
West Africa Ebola Fund.