An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 13 Vox Pops Capt eugene O'Connor (doctor) "We are providing sup- port to a British hospi- tal contingent treating healthcare workers and supporting Brit- ish medical units both directly and indirectly. I hope that we can contribute in a positive manner to alleviate the suffering in Sierra Leone. Hopefully we can take any lessons learnt on the ground back to help to deal with any possible cases in Ireland and feed it back to the HSE." Cpl Pierce Foley (Medic) "It is a very different type of trip for me as it is my first unarmed mission. Even though there is a high risk involved there should be no prob- lems, given our safety protocols and the PPE provided." Cpl Frank noonan (Medic) "I am really looking forward to the trip. It's an exciting opportu- nity and one I couldn't turn down. You always want to do something good in your lifetime and make a difference and hopefully as a team we can do that in the fight against Ebola." Tpr richard Fitzgerald (Medic) "It's nice to be a part of such a big interna- tional effort. Working with the British medi- cal units is a great opportunity and it's also fantastic to carry out a mission in a humani- tarian role. It's one I doubt I'll not forget for a long time." Speaking to the minister the team were very positive about their mission, knowing that they have received the best training and the best personal protec- tive equipment (PPE) possible to carry out the task ahead, and they have every confidence in completing their mission to the highest of standards. Minister Coveney's final words to the team were: "It is a brave decision you have taken. I am confident in your skill sets and that you can complete the mis- sion in a highly professional manner." While several West African countries have suffered to varying degrees, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been the most severely affected. The virus has affected over 21,000 people with nearly 8,500 confirmed deaths so far, and unfortunately this number is still rising. In Sierra Leone, where our team will be deployed, there have been over 2,700 deaths to date, with more expected. The team spent a period in Aldershot Bks in the UK, where they received mission briefings, treatment protocol training and PPE training, before deploy- ing to Kerry Town, Sierra Leone, on 15th January. The facilities in Kerry Town for Ebola virus disease treatment are of international standards and also offer treatment to healthcare workers who are providing care to Ebola victims in the region. Ebola spreads by direct contact with the bodily fluids (such as saliva, mucus, vomit, faeces, sweat, tears, breast milk, urine, blood and semen) of a person who has developed symptoms of the disease; virus, fever, sore throat, muscle pains and headaches. Symptoms emerge between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus. As the disease progresses it leads to vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and decreased functionality of the liver and kidneys, followed typically by both internal and external bleeding. There is as yet no known effective medica- tion or vaccine for Ebola, something to which this crisis may focus much-needed attention. As you read this, Ebola continues to affect West Africa, but with increasing international efforts it is to be hoped that the virus will be contained and, hopefully, eventually eliminated. L/R Cpl Foley, Cpl Noonan and Tpr Fitzgerald pack their medical bags for mission prep. L/R Tpr Fitzgerald, Cpl Noonan, Capt O'Connor and Cpl Foley – missing from photo is Sgt Dave Sliney. Minister Simon Coveney meets the medical team heading to Sierra Leone, pictured with Brig Gen Kieran Brennan, GOC 1 Bde Sierra Leone

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