Emergencies and Disasters

On 2 September 2014, the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, a PSI affiliate held a one-day training the trainers’ workshop, together with a formal launch of the WHO Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Care of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Filovirus Haemorrhagic Fever in Health-Care Settings, with Focus on Ebola in Nigeria (find link below). Brother Ayuba Wabba, National President of the union, addressed the workshop participants.

PSI recently met with the senior staff of United Cities and Local Governments – UCLG – which is a global federation of cities and local governments. The aim of the meeting was to seek areas of common interest. This statement was jointly agreed.

#protecthealthworkers - Health workers are globally called to the frontline of natural disasters and man-made conflicts. They are among the first responders to the resulting humanitarian crises, alongside fire-fighters, civil defence, law enforcement and other emergency workers.

The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), which is the largest health workers’ union in Africa is gravely concerned about the current outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in parts of West Africa generally, and Nigeria in particular. The outbreak which began in Guinea in December 2013 now involves Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, with about 2127 reported cases and 1145 deaths out of which Nigeria has 12 suspected and confirmed cases with 4 deaths.

Following the deaths of two health workers in Liberia, trade unions have called on the government to hold discussions with health workers and reach a joint policy to tackle Ebola and avoid further deaths from the disease.