Motswana jets off to help in Sierra Leone Ebola outbreak

Mbongeni Mguni | Monday January 26, 2015 12:28

 

Prior to his departure, Mbulawa – a professional nurse based in the Western Cape – trained for weeks under the tutelage of the United Nations and a South African NGO, Right to Care.

The team, comprising one medical doctor and about 10 nurses who were recruited and trained by Right to Care, will spend eight weeks in the West African nation assisting the UN’s efforts to stop and reverse the deadly virus.

Speaking to The Monitor ahead of his departure, Mbulawa said he felt no fear in jetting off to confront a disease that has killed thousands and continues to infect many more daily.

By September, the World Health Organisation was estimating that 74 health care workers had caught Ebola in Sierra Leone in the current outbreak, with 31 dying.

“I think everyone will have their own opinion, but if you look at the global picture, Africa is in need,” he said by telephone from Gauteng.

“We have war zones, terrorists and now Ebola and this is an Africa in need. If you look at Botswana, we need people with better knowledge.

“When I came over the festive, I was able to travel through some facilities and I can tell you that one room for isolation will not be enough.

“When I return, I expect people to say ‘you have been there. Where can we improve?’

Mbulawa said he will use the knowledge garnered in Sierra Leone to help Botswana in the future and also provide assistance where the UN requires. Prior to their departure, the team spent weeks in Gauteng being drilled in safety procedures, particularly around the protective gear that is the final frontier between health workers and the virus. The training in particular, emboldened Mbulawa who holds a Masters of Nursing Education with training in infection control.

“For me, it was easy being part of the team because you have to know what Ebola is and have the skill,” he said.

“We went through orientation that gave us a better picture of Ebola and how dangerous it is.  “This also gave us a chance to know whether we were mentally prepared to go. You don’t just wake up and go there. The training and workshops have made life a bit easier.”

The professional nurse was also encouraged by daily updates coming from Sierra Leone suggesting the UN is winning the war against the deadly outbreak that has claimed 8, 683 lives in West Africa. “We receive updates on a daily basis and in the last week of December, the number of cases reported were in the 700s each week. Last week, it was 70 and this week, it was only two cases. “There’s a plan and this thing is under control.” Mbulawa left Botswana for studies in South Africa in 2006 and after completion in 2010, was offered a job in the Western Cape where he was based prior to leaving for Sierra Leone.