Liberia’s Assistant Minister Of Health Discusses Country’s Response To Ebola; Urges International Community To Continue To Provide Assistance

Scientific American: When Ebola Came to Liberia
Tolbert Nyenswah, assistant minister of health for Liberia’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

“We always knew that Ebola would come to Liberia. For us it was just a matter of when. As the current outbreak erupted in Guinea this past winter, we braced for an incoming epidemic. People travel between our two countries daily. We started to stock up on needed personal protective equipment and quietly disseminated information about how to handle Ebola cases. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were not prepared. We did not expect the sheer scale of the outbreak, which was unprecedented anywhere. … The U.S., along with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme, Doctors Without Borders and Samaritan’s Purse are helping to support the efforts of the Liberian government. … Still, we require continued international support. Even wealthy countries cannot stop public health threats without the cooperation of their people. To get that support, we must show communities that we are helping patients. Accordingly, Liberia is committed to do its part to bring the Ebola outbreak to an end as soon as possible. Please join us” (8/6).

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