Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

 

In an interview with Kevin Noone, Executive Director of International Medical Corps UK, he spoke about the role of International Medical Corp in supporting society and spreading awareness about diseases like Ebola. 



Noone was appointed as the Executive Director of International Medical Corp UK by the board of trustees. In March 2013 Noone was appointed Managing Director of International Medical Corp Dubai.



His current responsibilities include overlooking all projects funded through the British government, the European Community and the UN, including DfID, ECHO, EC, IOM, UNHCR, UNFPA, UNOCHA and UNICEF, and other various European donors. Under his leadership as Executive Vice President, he led the establishment and growth of programs in Somalia, Angola, South Africa, and Sierra Leone.



Liberia, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Cameroon, CAR, DRC, Tanzania, Kenya, Indonesia, East Timor, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Jordan, Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo.



SG: What is the mission of the International Medical Corps?



Noone: International Medical Corps relieves the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster, and disease by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance.



Since its founding in 1984, International Medical Corps has delivered $1.8 billion in lifesaving medical care and training to tens of millions of people across more than 70 countries.



International Medical Corps has been a First Responder to the most devastating man-made and natural disasters, while simultaneously strengthening the capacity of local communities to recover over the long-term. With a dedicated staff of 5,300 and a network of thousands of volunteers, International Medical Corps works in the world’s most challenging and remote places, including Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Libya, and Liberia, among others.



SG: What are the principles and processes applied by the organization to assist volunteers in societies served to raise awareness and help combat the spread of the disease?



Noone: International Medical Corps focuses on the delivery of community-based health care. We emphasize training and education, and prioritize hiring local staff – in fact, 96% of our field-based staff and health professionals are recruited from the local community.



This helps to ensure that skills and knowledge are passed on and remain long after our programs have ended. International Medical Corps will train 3,500 frontline health workers to safely treat Ebola patients in Liberia and Sierra Leone and manage Ebola treatment units that are critical to ending the deadly epidemic. 



In addition, in Sierra Leone International Medical Corps has conducted ‘Ebola 101’ training of trainers for local organizations so that they can continue to safely operate. This includes training 45 members of Street Child, an organization of schoolteachers, whom will themselves now train an additional 500 teachers in all provinces of the country. 



SG: What is the level of awareness about Ebola virus worldwide? 



Noone: Due to heightened media attention, many worldwide are aware of the virulent nature of Ebola but there are widespread misconceptions about the virus spreading globally.



In order to end this unprecedented epidemic, we must tackle the problem at its source in West Africa where more than 13,500 have been infected and nearly 5,000 have already died from the disease. There are very few humanitarian agencies that have the capacity to manage and provide medical treatment to those infected with Ebola, and International Medical Corps is one of them.



SG: How can we limit the spread of the disease?



Noone: To limit the spread of the disease, testing and treatment facilities must be made available, and that includes access to basic infection control and protection mechanisms and safe transportation to the facilities.



Patients must receive appropriate, safe, and dignified supportive care to increase their likelihood of survival, and this will also serve to inform community perceptions that getting tested and going to a treatment unit is the best option. Finally, for those who don’t survive, we must dispose of their remains in a culturally appropriate, dignified, yet safe way. 



Additionally, we must ensure adequate human resources – health care workers and other Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) staff - are available and properly equipped to provide relief. 



This includes necessary and adequate training, availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), open airspace, and no quarantines for asymptomatic low-risk workers returning to their country of origin.  



SG: The key areas affected are in West Africa. What are the statistics on combating the epidemic from a local perspective?



Noone: International Medical Corps is operating a 70-bed Ebola Treatment Unit in Bong County, Liberia, where its first responders are providing lifesaving care. 



In addition, International Medical Corps is establishing three more Ebola treatment centers in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The four centers will give more than 1.5 million people access to vital health care.



International Medical Corps is also scaling up its training efforts and will train 3,500 frontline health workers to safely treat patients and manage Ebola treatment units that are critical to ending the deadly epidemic.



SG: Is there any treatment for Ebola right now? With all that efforts from countries and health organizations do we expect to have any specify treatment for Ebola in the near future?



Noone: The current treatment for confirmed Ebola cases is supportive care including IV fluids and balancing electrolytes, as well as protection from transmitting the infection which includes isolation from family members and the public in specifically designed treatment units.



Patients have a higher survival rate when they receive supportive care, and importantly, pose no risk for transmitting the disease to others when infection control protocols are meticulously followed.