Shropshire Ebola doctor delighted with Sierra Leone progress
A Shropshire doctor who helped in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in Africa has welcomed news that the battle is being won.
But Dr Martin Deahl, who went to help the sick in Sierra Leone last November, said there was still much work to do.
He was speaking after International Development Secretary Justine Greening said Britain's plan to tackle the outbreak was succeeding.
The UK has led international assistance to the west African country – one of three affected by the Ebola outbreak which began last year – with direct aid totalling £325 million.
Hundreds of NHS volunteers have gone to the country to support more than 1,400 treatment and isolation beds for the infected.
Among the volunteers was Dr Deahl, who lives near Newport. He said: "I do think a lot of progress has been made but on some occasions the number of cases seems to be falling but always flares up again, and there are still a lot of unreported cases.
"My big concern is that when Ebola has gone back into the jungle the whole of Sierra Leone's health care will need to be looked at and rebuilt. I still think there is a lot that can be done to help that country as they need staff to be trained in treating other diseases, not just Ebola.
"I am more than happy to help, whether it's going back or training people due to go out there. I feel like it is important to make sure this disease is stopped. I also feel that the people of Sierra Leone fear for their safety if we were to pull out of the country altogether, because they fear Islamists might come over the border.
"The country is fantastic as it is Muslims and Christians, but they fear us leaving will cause trouble."
At the height of the outbreak last autumn, experts warned that 20,000 people could be dying every month by January, but the number of cases has since dropped dramatically.
The US has wound up its operation in Liberia after cases dwindled to a trickle, while Ms Greening said infection rates in Sierra Leone have fallen from around 600 to 60 new cases a week.
Speaking during a visit to Sierra Leone, Ms Greening said Britain could be "incredibly proud" of the efforts of staff from the NHS, as well as the Department of International Development and Public Health England, as well as members of the armed forces deployed to Sierra Leone.