Leprosy Mission launches Ebola protection drive

A SOUTHSIDE based organisation has launched a fundraising drive to purchase 20,000 protective suits to protect health workers from the deadly spread of Ebola.

As the Ebola crisis continues to spread across West Africa, the medical personnel volunteering on the frontline face daily gamble with their health.

Now, Leprosy Mission Ireland, based in Sandyford, has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase 20,000 disposable protective clothing suits, which will be sent to West Africa to ensure that aid workers can carry out their essential work with limited risk.

The organisation says that just e5 will cover the cost of purchasing and shipping one full protective suit to an individual in the affected areas.

Due to the continued, and expanding threat, of this most recent Ebola outbreak demand for protective clothing in the affected areas is rising daily, the organisation states.

Many of those working in hospital and medical treatment centres are doing so with limited access to protective and preventive clothing, and are putting their lives at risk on a daily basis as a result.

To date more than 1,350 people have died from Ebola since March across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone making this the worst Ebola outbreak since its discovery almost 40 years ago.

Ken Gibson, the CEO of The Leprosy Mission of Ireland stated:

“Our colleagues working with the Leprosy Mission across Africa are on the front line every day helping those suffering from the Ebola outbreak as part of their medical duties.

“Protective clothing is running dangerously low and personnel are having to put their own lives, and health, at risk daily.

“Requests are coming in constantly for more protective clothing for workers across the developing world, which is why we are launching this fundraising drive. Just e5 can purchase one protective suit for an aid worker, allowing them to continue their lifesaving work without putting themselves in danger.

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Leprosy Mission Ireland is aiming to jointly purchase 20,000 protective suits that will be shipped directly out to medical workers and vulnerable personnel in the affected areas.

To donate tel 01-2938570 or electronically transfer funds to The Leprosy Mission Ireland.

Account details: AIB, Blackthorn Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, Account No. 39582004, Sort Code. 93-35-70, IBAN – IE72AIBK93357039582004, BIC – AIBKIE2D.