AAP
Aid groups have welcomed the first deployment of Australian health workers to west Africa, but warn more help is still needed amid expectations a UN deadline for containing the outbreak will not be met.
A group of 17 Australian health workers, comprising six doctors, eight nurses and three environmental health officers, are expected to depart for Sierra Leone on Friday as part of the Abbott government's response to calls for countries to do more to combat Ebola.
It's understood they will be based at the 100-bed treatment centre at Hastings airfield, near the Sierra Leone capital, which is being built by British engineers. The centre will be handed over to the Australian mission in mid-December.
The disease has claimed more than 5000 lives since the beginning of the year.
Oxfam Australia chief Dr Helen Szoke on Friday welcomed the development, which comes after months of criticism that the Abbott government was slow in responding to the crisis.
'The imminent deployment of Australian health workers is welcome news, particularly given the UN's announcement that its containment deadline of December 1 will not be met,' Dr Szoke said.
The UN had set benchmarks of containment of 70 per cent of cases by December 1, and that 70 per cent of burials of Ebola victims would be completed without the virus spreading.
'Given the challenge being faced to bring the virus under control in Sierra Leone, it is vital that these life-saving human resources are delivered as soon as possible.
'We urge the Australian government to continue to monitor the situation and remain open to sending additional personnel, including AUSMAT and logistical support,' Dr Szoke said.
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor was pleased the government was 'finally providing assistance'.
'Belatedly the federal government is coming to the party because they realise they've pulled the wrong foreign policy decisions, but we are pleased,' he told reporters in Melbourne.
'I commend the volunteers and commend the people who are going there.'
© AAP 2014
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Posted by Unknown on Thursday, November 27, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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