Page 4 - Lessons learned from Ebola & COVID19 - June 2020

2. EU LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS

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Infectious diseases of high consequences (IDHC) can pose a real threat to the life of healthcare professionals,
especially nurses, if they are not adequately equipped with education, training, appropriate resources within
working environments and protective equipment. The result of this has been seen in the case of Ebola and now
again with COVID-19. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, led to thousands of deaths, being a challenge not only
for Africa but also a great concern of the European Union. Although the outbreak was eventually under control
due to well-coordinated efforts with a highly trained frontline, especially nurses, the EFN Report recommended
at that time (2015) that it was crucial to continue to learn from our mistakes as complacency is dangerous and
can lead to more unnecessary deaths.

Overall, the EU and its Member States have contributed with billions of Euros to fight against both pandemics,
but equipment and training for the frontline health professionals involved in managing people with Ebola and
COVID-19 was and has not been consistent, and in some cases totally lacking, despite the fact that according
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to the EU policy strategies , healthcare professionals are required to be equipped with the right material and
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to have received adequate and appropriate training, confirmed by the Health Council on the 1 December
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2014 .

IDHC, such as Ebola and COVID-19, have a huge impact on frontline, especially nurses, especially women. Every
day, nurses provide the best possible health care for patients infected with the virus, and provide high quality

4 https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/health-emergency-preparedness-imported-cases-high-consequence-infectious-
diseases
5 Council of the EU (2014) Council Conclusion on the Ebola Crisis in West Africa.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/145195.pdf
6 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2015979%202014%20INIT

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