$500mill to stop IS. $18mill to stop Ebola.

[i-need-a-martini]

Personnel we deployed to to fight I.S.? 

600.

Personnel we deployed to fight Ebola?

Zero.

[Anonymous]

does anyone have any more info

about international response?

this doesn't seem up to date:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_Ebola_virus_epidemic_in_West_Africa

[muppet_detector]

---

@am*3 wrote:

What is Australia doing?

Giving a paltry $18m and no other action

---

Unbelievable!

This thread has shown numerous times that Australia is developing/has developed centres for treatment here in Australia.

Screw trying to help those who present with symptoms in Australia, even though there is already evidence that the virus is on the move.

Australian storm and fire season is upon us. should we spend all available resources and not keep any back should we need it? spend up to the hilt and ignore those who may need the funds here in Australia, even those we are already treating? Wager the farm and ignore all other industries that keep the revenue ticking over? Divert aid money from elsewhere?

Remember that budget that was being discussed - well here's a cool $18 million that I bet wasn't factored in. Maybe we could terminate live export, or mining or cripple the market for the production of caged animal produce and reduce our revenue without viable replacements - that would increase the amount we could donate! Close down the detention centres, turn em all away.

Sure, we could donate more money, but at what cost? What else will suffer? Which other charity or industry will receive less funds? Which will be the next crisis we are called upon to contribute to and how will we then fund that? "oops sorry, can't help out this time, we gave everything we had last time"

We could send another $23 million if everyone donated $1 from their pockets, but which other charities would suffer as a result? How many people will then have to buy caged pork at Christmas instead of free range?

I do like Debrahs idea of sending a hospital ship (or even more) I wonder if that is economically viable? I wonder what the logistics of that are?

[cherry*135]

The UK are sending a hospital ship to West Africa.

This is what Australia is doing about direct requests for help. Very little.

The World Health Org/UN have asked for more funds ( they were down to $100 000) and personnel to be sent to West Africa.. Australia's response a paltry $18m and no personnel to be sent.

WHAT WE’RE DOING

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended his government’s decision not to send Australian health workers to Ebola-ravaged west Africa.

He’s praised the “selfless humanitarianism” of non-government organisations who have sent volunteers to the region, but says there’s a world of difference between volunteering and being forced to tackle the deadly epidemic.

[icyfroth]

---

@am*3 wrote:

The UK are sending a hospital ship to West Africa.

This is what Australia is doing about direct requests for help. Very little.

The World Health Org/UN have asked for more funds ( they were down to $100 000) and personnel to be sent to West Africa.. Australia's response a paltry $18m and no personnel to be sent.

WHAT WE’RE DOING

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended his government’s decision not to send Australian health workers to Ebola-ravaged west Africa.

He’s praised the “selfless humanitarianism” of non-government organisations who have sent volunteers to the region, but says there’s a world of difference between volunteering and being forced to tackle the deadly epidemic.

---

What do you feel should be done by Australia besides pledging $18 mil, Am?

[muppet_detector]

That's even worse!

I thought we were talking about sending people who volunteered to go, not forcing non willing people into the situation! No wonder he is concerned about the time taken to recover any of those infected.

"Here's the gangplank. Now, it's just a little jump to the left"......

[icyfroth]

I think what's being said is, ok we need health care professional personnel more than funds.  But you can't force ppl to go help where they feel endangered.

The first rule of assistance is to ascertain there is no danger to yourself.

Another concern is that the more personnel we send, the more we are open to returning personnel bringing the virus with them.

[village_person]

I will not stand in the way of anyone here in Oz wishing to volunteer.

[debra9275]

Quite brave aren't they, the volunteers, something you or I wouldn't do

[Anonymous]

---

@am*3 wrote:

You decreed the following was the issue (topic) here, which I don't see the topic  is limited to just that one point. How can the spread of the disease into other countries not be a MAJOR concern worldwide?

good information but irrelevant

to the issue discussed here.

the issue is not the spread of the

disease but the length of the evacuation

process of those who are sick - in

particular - australian personnel.

The title, the opening post and post 2 by the OP covers funding (not much given so far) and sending personnel to W Africa of not... not just discusing the excuse the Abbott Govt have come up with to not send personnel to West Africa.

---

yeah but the information you posted

as a response to the specific issue

i was addressing - was not relevant.

[boris1gary]

---

@debra9275 wrote:
Quite brave aren't they, the volunteers, something you or I wouldn't do

---

and I think you have to be a trained health worker. From the UK

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/17/nhs-medics-volunteer-sierra-leone-ebola-nursing-call-up

Hundreds of NHS medics volunteer to work in Sierra Leone as Ebola spreads

Ebola ‘hysteria’ in Europe and the US could be hampering nursing call-up, warn medical charities operating in west Africa

More than 800 NHS doctors, nurses and paramedics have signed up to work in Sierra Leone as the spread of Ebola continues to outpace efforts to contain the virus.

But medical charities operating in west Africa warn that “hysteria” whipped up about a potential outbreak in Europe or the US could compromise efforts to attract thousands more volunteers that are needed.

Sean Casey, head of International Medical Corps’s Ebola emergency response team in Liberia, said: “There’s some serious fear and paranoia around that’s not based on facts, and they haven’t anything to worry about. If someone doesn’t have symptoms you can’t give someone Ebola.”