Canada to contribute additional $30M in Ebola aid: reports

Canada will be doubling its financial aid for the fight against Ebola with another $30 million in funding, according to reports.

So far, the government has committed $35 million to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN) and humanitarian aid groups working in the affected region.

It has also donated as much as $2.5 million in personal protective equipment.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the international effort to control the deadly virus, and promised more help from Canada.

A summary of their conversation, released by Harper’s office, said Ban “expressed his appreciation for Canada’s contributions to date.”

“Prime Minister Harper indicated that Canada would commit additional support to the international effort in the coming days,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

The PMO declined to give any further details about the type of support it will offer.

As well, the Public Health Agency of Canada has sent two mobile labs to Sierra Leone. One of the teams is working with Medecins Sans Frontieres to provide rapid diagnosis; the other is helping to improve infection prevention and control procedures.

Canada has also offered to donate a Canadian-developed experimental vaccine, currently undergoing clinical trials, to the WHO.

Meanwhile, should Ebola arrive on Canadian soil, Health Minister Rona Ambrose said a team of public health experts and epidemiologists is standing by to provide support, expertise, rapid diagnoses and emergency supplies.

Amid growing global anxiety about the spread of the virus, Ambrose met Wednesday with representatives of the national nurses’ union, which has complained of inadequate personal protective gear, training and preparedness for nurses, who would be on the front lines.

She reassured the nurses that they have her full support and that the government is committed to ensuring they have everything they need to feel safe.

And she said the Public Health Agency of Canada would respond to an Ebola case with epidemiologists and experts in infectious disease outbreak management, laboratory expertise to quickly confirm diagnosis, and any needed supplies, such as masks, gloves and face shields.

“It is imperative that all front-line health care workers have guidance and information to deal with Ebola,” Ambrose said in a statement.

“They are the first line of defence against infectious diseases and they must be fully included in all communications.”

Ambrose also held a conference call with her provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure they are fully prepared to deal with the disease should it make an appearance in Canada.

“On this call I encouraged all provinces and territories to look into doing tests runs to ensure protocols are in place, and proper personal protective gear is available,” she said.

In Ontario, Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins said the province is prepared to to handle possible cases of Ebola. He said training and protection of front-line health care workers is one of the province’s top priorities.

Eight potential cases have been investigated across Ontario already, all with negative results.

While provincial health officials are reassuring the public, the head of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario said more needs to be done to protect front-line hospital staff. The association said Ontario must be prepared to deal with patients with Ebola not just at hospitals, but at walk-in clinics and long-term care homes as well.

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