Ebola outbreak: Red Cross calls for swift action in Guinea

In order to further curtail the  spread of Ebola virus in the rural community of Gouéké in Guinea’s N’Zerekore prefecture, the Red Cross society has called for a swift action in the community.

This is as a network of more than 700 trained Red Cross volunteers has been activated as part of the first wave of response to the new Ebola outbreak in the rural community.

Drawing from their experience during the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreaks, the Red Cross teams are rushing to contain further spread of the virus.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,’ IFRC, Regional Director for Africa, Mohammed Mukhier, said: “Time is of the essence. The resurgence of the virus in Guinea comes at the worst possible time when the country is already facing the COVID-19 pandemic. There are reasons for fear, but there are also reasons for hope. While we are extremely concerned, we are also reassured by the lessons we learned from previous outbreaks, and by recent medical advances.”

More than 11,000 people were killed during the worst-ever Ebola outbreak in history in 2014-2016.

Mukhier said: “We need a response that is faster than the virus itself. Unless the response is swift, the health, economic and social impacts are likely to be immense for millions of people in a country with a relatively weak health system, and where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line.”

In response to this new outbreak, the IFRC and Guinea Red Cross have activated their “epidemic preparedness and response network” in the country. Through this system, Red Cross teams have been helping communities prepare and prevent the spread of diseases.

Red Cross volunteers will provide services such as contact tracing, psychosocial support, water, sanitation and hygiene, and—if needed—safe burials.

Guinea Red Cross has almost 2,500 volunteers across the country which gives it extraordinary reach into communities.