Lagos -
West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS said on Sunday it will train 150 health workers this week to help tackle the deadly Ebola disease in the worst hit countries; Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“Health workers from six ECOWAS member states are to undergo training in Accra ahead of their deployment in the three countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak in the region,” the Economic Community of West African States said in a statement.
It said the health workers from Benin, Niger, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Mali will undergo five days of training from Monday, before starting work with personnel of the health ministries of the three badly affected nations.
“It is part of the regional response plan adopted by the last assembly of ECOWAS health ministers aimed at providing substantial support in human resources to strengthen the health system of the affected countries in their efforts to contain the epidemic,” the regional grouping said.
The disease, which has hit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone hardest, has left more than 5 400 people dead and infected more than 15 000, according to the World Health Organisation. - Sapa-AFP