Brazil sends medicines to combat Ebola virus in Western Africa

Each kit contains 30 drugs and 18 basic health supplies, with the ability to help 500 people for 3 months. The Brazilian government announced this Friday (8) the donation of medical kids to combat the spread of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. The work is being done in a joint action between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of External Relations.

Cada kit é composto por 30 medicamentos e 18 insumos básicos de saúde, com capacidade para atender 500 pessoas por 3 meses. O governo brasileiro anunciou nesta sexta-feira (8) a doação de kits com medicamentos  para combater o avanço da epidemia de ebola no Oeste da África. O trabalho esta sendo realizado em ação conjunta entre o Ministério da Saúde e o Ministério das Relações Exteriores.

This article was translated from Portuguese. Click here to read the original from Portal Brasil.

"In humanitarian cooperation with Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, the Brazilian Government, in conjunction the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of External Relations, is making donations of 'disaster kits' to support the local activities. Each kit is made of up 30 drugs and 18 basic health supplies, with the ability to help 500 people for three months. In June four kits were donated to Guinea, for use in the National Hospital of Donka, and another 10 donations of kits are in progress, 5 being for Liberia and 5 for Sierra Leone, in coordination with the local representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO)."

The Minister of Health, Arthur Chioro and the Secretary of Health Surveillance, Jarbas Barbosa, explained that the control of Ebola outbreaks is possible with relatively simple means, all common in Brazil, like the introduction of basic practices of biosecurity in health services and in the care of patients – isolating patients; the use of masks, gloves, and aprons by health professionals; adequate cleaning of surfaces, among other measures. It is also necessary that, in the affected communities, the contact of persons with blood and bodily fluids of the sick is avoided.

"The virus is not transmitted by air, by mosquitos, or by water or food," reassured Jarbas Barbosa. He reported that the transfer from one person to another requires direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, tissues or organs of the infected persons or contact with contaminated objects, like injection needles and sheets used by the sick. Also the patient does not transmit the sickness during the period of incubation (which lasts 1 to 21 days), but only when symptoms appear.

The WHO is coordinating donations and the dispatch of medical health professionals to support the afflicted countries and, thereby, seek the disruption of the outbreak.

Article Translated by Erica Kliment, Staff Intern with the Brazil Institute at the Wilson Center