A ZIMBABWEAN doctor, Lincoln Charimari, has flown to West Africa to give a helping hand in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus outbreak that has so far claimed over 700 lives in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. NQOBANI NDLOVU
Ebola is a rare, but deadly infection that causes bleeding inside and outside the body.
Health workers have not been spared as they were at greater risk of contracting the disease which spreads through contact with bodily fluids. There is no known cure for the infection.
Ebola has killed a Liberian doctor while three health workers from Sierra Leone and the USA were flown back to their countries after contracting the disease.
Charimari is the head of disease prevention and control at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe country office.
Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa said Charimari’s trip to West Africa was part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to offer a helping hand in the fight against the deadly infection.
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“One of our doctors, Charimari, is now in West Africa to help other doctors, specialists and other health workers to combat the spread of the Ebola outbreak,” Parirenyatwa said in Gweru last week during the handover of the Gweru Provincial Hospital’s casualty ward constructed by Unki Mine.
Parirenyatwa said Zimbabwe was also on high alert to avert an Ebola outbreak in the country and had posted surveillance teams at all border posts. He added government was co-ordinatingits activities with its regional neighbours.