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Liberia + 3 more

Increased measures to help relieve the Ebola epidemic

Today, the Government took several decisions to help relieve the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. The National Board of Health and Welfare has been instructed to implement measures to make it easier for Swedish health care professionals to travel to areas affected by the Ebola outbreak.

  • More health care professionals are needed on the ground and Sweden can do more. This is why we have today taken a number of decisions to quickly ensure that it is easier to get Swedish health care professionals on the ground," says Minister for Health Care, Public Health and Sport Gabriel Wikström.

Previously the Government allocated a total of SEK 145 million in humanitarian support.

  • Sweden is now continuing to take action together with the rest of the world to curb the spread of the virus and ensure that those affected receive medical care. Strong and coordinated cooperation by the international community is crucial if we are to achieve success," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Isabella Lövin.

Coordination by the National Board of Health and Welfare

The National Board of Health and Welfare is to coordinate increased resources and possible measures to evacuate people with a confirmed Ebola infection or who are suspected of having contracted the virus. There is a need for training to make things easier for Swedish personnel. The National Board of Health and Welfare will therefore make an inventory of what measures are needed and, if necessary, quickly implement them or support their implementation. The National Board of Health and Welfare is also to provide an economic guarantee for costs incurred in connection with any evacuation.

  • Being able to offer medical evacuation from the affected areas is essential if personnel recruited for relief efforts are to feel safe," says Mr Wikström.

  • We are closely following developments and monitoring the need to quickly take additional decisions to make it easier for personnel to take part," he adds.

Extra funds allocated

SEK 12 million is being allocated to the National Board of Health and Welfare.

Contact

Christian Scharf
Press contact to Gabriel Wikström
+46 72 215 12 02