Health workers succumbed to the deadly Ebola disease during the early stages of the 2014 outbreak in Sierra Leone in spite of training, what are the lessons learned

Abstract

Frontline health workers in Sierra Leone received training on infection prevention and control (IPC) from experts on Ebola from Guinea and Liberia. Sierra Leone reported Ebola 2 months after Guinea.  Many nurses died despite IPC training. The purpose of the study was to answer four questions; why did many health workers succumb to Ebola and survivors ostracized by community? Was this a situation of perceived preparedness without being really effectively prepared? Why was implementation of preparedness not translated into health worker protection in early phases of the disease? Information was compiled from observation of practices associated to risk of Ebola infection and prevention as well as from focus group discussions.IPC capacity of health workers was weak with eleven nurses dying following unprotected contact with one infected nurse.  IPC should be provided to health workers including refreshing courses. Workers and families of deceased should receive food, financial, counselling and moral support. New messages portraying nurses as heroines risking their lives and sacrificing to save communities from Ebola should be disseminated in communities. At national level, incentives, and free health insurance cover should be provided.

Keywords: Ebola, nurse training in infection prevention control, motivation, incentives, nurses dying from Ebola