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Ebola equipment donation

Scottish Government helps fight against outbreak

The Scottish Government is donating £300,000 worth of medical equipment and supplies to help fight the spread of Ebola in the affected countries of west Africa.

Around 108,000 respirators and one million disposable aprons, will be distributed to charities running the six UK Government funded clinics within Sierra Leone, as part of the international response to the outbreak.

Health Secretary Alex Neil saw some of the equipment today when he visited the NHS Scotland distribution centre in Larkhall near Motherwell.

The Scottish Government has already donated £500,000 to the World Health Organisation to help fund their efforts to combat the outbreak. More than 50 health workers from Scotland have also volunteered to go to west Africa to help with the official response.

NHS Scotland has extensive supplies of protective clothing and equipment which can be used to treat infectious disease patients in Scotland.

Medical supplies that will be donated include:
• 108,000 FFP3 valved respirators
• 1 million disposable aprons

These supplies are already being prepared for shipment.

Health Secretary Alex Neil said: 

“Scotland is well prepared to deal with an Ebola case in the unlikely event that one appears on these shores. We have robust procedures in place to identify and deal with cases promptly and safely. However, while it is vital that we are well prepared at home, it is also crucial that Scotland plays its part in the wider efforts to combat the disease in west Africa.

“We know that proper protective equipment is crucial to allow health workers to treat patients without themselves contracting or transmitting the disease. Equipment and protective clothing like this is vital to help them to contain Ebola and prevent further spread wherever possible. The Scottish Government stands ready to give further assistance as required.

“I am pleased to be able to send these medical supplies to west Africa, and I am also proud that so many Scottish health workers have volunteered to go and help efforts to contain the disease. They are a credit to Scotland’s NHS and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

Background:

Further information on the Scottish Government’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa can be found on the website:

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Ebola-preparedness-1164.aspx

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Ebola-preparedness-1100.aspx

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Scottish-funds-support-Ebola-fight-102f.aspx

 

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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