AU welcomes back first group of health workers deployed to fight Ebola

The African Union (AU) has welcomed back the first group of health workers deployed under its mission to fight against Ebola in the most affected countries.

AU has deployed health workers to Ebola hardest-hit countries in West Africa under its mission known as the AU Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA).

ASEOWA health workers, who were the first to be deployed to fight against Ebola, returned from Liberia on 22 Feb. upon completion of their tour of duty, said a statement from AU on Wednesday.

The returnees were from Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and among them were doctors, hygienists and communications experts, including one trainer of other medical personnel in the treatment of Ebola patients.

The health workers have been welcomed back by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission.

AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU Director of Social Affairs, Olawale Maiyegun, as well as ambassadors from the health workers' member states and a representative from Liberia were in attendance of the meeting organized to welcome the health workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

It was a unique event- the first time ever that the AU had welcomed back heroines and heroes in the fight against Ebola, and, without any infections among the health workers, said the statement.

Dlamini-Zuma thanked the health workers for their pioneering role and assured them that AU is determined to defeat Ebola.

"The African Union will stay the course until the affected countries are declared Ebola free. We are very happy that you undertook this mission," she told the returnees.

All returnees were awarded certificates of service in recognition of their contribution to the fight against Ebola and their selfless dedication.

A representative of the health workers, Dr. Abdou Sebushishe, outlined the impact that ASEOWA is having on the ground.

"When we went in September 2014, there were very few Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs). At first people preferred to go to other aid agencies when they contracted Ebola. The mortality rate was very high and there were dead bodies around. But, in November 2014 we opened our own ETU in collaboration with the Cubans and the Swedish. We had 60 confirmed cases of Ebola and we released 22 of them. We also had psychosocial teams doing follow ups," said Dr Sebushishe.

In their debriefing session, the health workers had the opportunity to share their experiences as well as some of the challenges they faced.

Dlamini-Zuma assured them that lessons from the debriefing session would be used by AU to improve the operational efficiency of ASEOWA.

She also informed them that they and their colleagues still on the field would form the core of future health emergency responses by the continent.

Operating in most affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, ASEOWA was formed by a decision of the AU Peace and Security Council, and has deployed nearly one thousand health workers in the fight against Ebola.

With support from AU member states, partners and the African private sector, the health workers will remain on the field until Ebola is defeated, said the statement. Endi