title: Ebola infection control in Sierra Leonean health clinics: A large cross-agency cooperative project.
abstract: The Ebola virus disease outbreak occurring in West Africa has resulted in at least 199 cases of Ebola in Sierra Leonean health care workers, many as a result of transmission occurring in health facilities. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone recognized that improvements in infection prevention and control (IPC) were necessary at all levels of health care delivery. To this end, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children's Fund, and multiple nongovernmental organizations implemented a national IPC training program in 1,200 peripheral health units (PHUs) in Sierra Leone. A tiered training of trainers program was used. Trainers conducted multiday trainings at PHUs and coordinated the delivery of personal protective equipment (gloves, gowns, masks, boots) and infection control supplies (chlorine, buckets, disposable rags, etc) to all PHU staff. Under the ongoing project, 4,264 health workers have already been trained, and 98% of PHUs have received their first shipment of supplies.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. Electronic address: xew6@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Carol Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: International Rescue Committee, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: UNICEF, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
authors.forename: Ngozi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Concern Worldwide, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Concern Worldwide, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.affiliation: UNICEF, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
authors.forename: Augustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kabano
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
authors.forename: Momodu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sesay
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004501:Education, Medical; D006268:Health Facilities; D006282:Health Personnel; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012807:Sierra Leone / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Health care workers; Health clinic; Health education; Infection control; Occupational health; Primary health care