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UN / EBOLA UPDATE
STORY: UN / EBOLA UPDATE
TRT: 1:50
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 26 AUGUST 2014, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT
RECENT – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
26 AUGUST 2014, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, UN spokesperson walking to the podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“On Ebola: the World Health Organization (WHO) says that the heavy toll on health care workers in this outbreak further impedes control efforts.
To date, more than 240 health care workers have developed the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, and more than 120 have died.
The World Health Organization explains this heavy toll by the fact that neither doctors nor the public were familiar with the disease in these countries. Moreover, several infectious diseases endemic in the region, like malaria, typhoid fever, and Lassa fever, mimic the initial symptoms of Ebola, and health care workers may not have seen, at first, the need to take protective measures.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“Heavy death toll among health care workers depletes one of the most vital assets during the control of any outbreak, as WHO estimates that, in the three hardest-hit countries, only one to two doctors are available to treat 100,000 people, mostly in urban areas.."
6. Wide shot, Press Briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
“The Department of Peacekeeping Operations has received official confirmation of the Filipinos decision to withdraw its contingence form UN Mission in Liberia and from the UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan at the end of their current tour of duty. The UN Peacekeeping is extremely grateful for the energy, expertise and selfless work of its peacekeepers, civilians and uniformed personnel alike, contributed from countries around the world. The UN Peacekeeping is reaching out to other troops and police contributing countries to replace the Filipino contingency.”
8. Wide shot, UN spokesperson walks out
The World Heath Organization (WHO) warned that the heavy toll on health workers is hampering the efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
At a press briefing today (26 Aug) United Nations (UN) Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that more than 120 health professionals have died and more than 240 have contracted the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
He said that several other infectious diseases endemic in the region, such as malaria, typhoid fever and Lassa fever, mimic the initial symptoms of Ebola and health care workers may not have seen, initially, the need to take protective measures.
The agency said that once the virus was identified and the medical staff took proper measures, the death toll dropped dramatically.
WHO underscored that the heavy death toll among health workers depletes “one of the most vital assets during the control of any outbreak.”
According to the agency’s estimates, in the three hardest-hit countries, there are only one to two doctors are available for 100,000 people, mostly in urban areas.
The UN Spokesperson noted that the African Union has launched a urgent initiative to recruit more medical staff from among its state members.
Also on Ebola, he said the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) remains fully committed to supporting the people of Liberia in their fight against Ebola, adding that the Mission has reoriented several aspects of its civilian and security operations and works closely with the UN Country Team to provide support to the Government-led response and prevention efforts.
He also confirmed the withdrawal of the Philippine contingency form at the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)at the end of their tour current of duty.
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