Troops to Fight Ebola

Specialties Government

Published

Specializes in Hematology/Oncology, Critical Care.

Good morning all,

I was just reading the news this morning and saw that President Obama has plans to send about 3,000 troops to Liberia to help fight Ebola. I was wondering what my fellow military nurses think of this plan? I have mixed feelings... I know this is something that needs to be contained, but I also feel that sending an already strained military force may not be the best approach... any other thoughts?

Specializes in hospice.

Do you have a link to a news story? Because I find this very hard to believe.....

Specializes in Hematology/Oncology, Critical Care.
Obama to announce troops, funds to fight Ebola - CNN.com
Specializes in hospice.

Thank you.

I'm confused in that I don't know what "troops" are supposed to do to fight Ebola. Crowd control?

I get sending specialized personnel, but your basic GI Joe? What's his role?

Specializes in Hematology/Oncology, Critical Care.

Also, google "troops to fight ebola" and several other news sources have the same story.

Thank you.

I'm confused in that I don't know what "troops" are supposed to do to fight Ebola. Crowd control?

Command will issue you a reallllllly tiny gun to shoot enemy viruses. ;)

The troops will consist of some medical personnel to train local providers so they can increase their standard of care. Some logistical unit personnel to equip the trainers and provide specialized tools to aid the locals in their fight to bring the infection under control. And some force protection personnel (infantry) to make sure the medical/logistical units come home safe and sound. US Military personnel are popular targets, and in an austere environment like Africa, the support chain is long, and must be protected at all times.

The goal is not for us to treat people. The mission is to insure the regional medical responders have the knowledge and tools at their disposal to do the job themselves. If I treat one person, I save one person. If I train one person, I save hundreds of people through the actions of that training. Military Humanitarian Missions are far more common than people know...this just happens to be topical at the moment.

Specializes in hospice.
Command will issue you a reallllllly tiny gun to shoot enemy viruses. ;)

LOL you made me think of this:

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

The cricket! Lol.

Specializes in ER, ICU.

If you send one service person you need to support them. Security, food, lodging, medical care, supplies and so on. Personally I believe that Africa should take on the responsibility themselves (read Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo). Her contention is that aid to Africa has created a culture of dependence that has led to lower per capita income than in the 70s, and no decrease in poverty, disease, or suffering. That said, I would be glad to volunteer if I could swing it with my day job. I'm not unsympathetic to the suffering of the people, but we can't keep trying to clean up every mess around the world.

But this is not cleaning up "every mess around the world." This is a deadly virus with cases increasing exponentially. It is important to contain this now. US troops will be assisting with setting up care facilities. NPR had a piece on All Things Considered today about getting ill people care and isolating them earlier by increasing the number of treatment facilities.

Specializes in hospice.

This might be why people reasonably hesitate:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/09/19/at-least-8-ebola-aid-workers-reportedly-killed-in-cold-blood-by-villagers-in/

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