World Humanitarian Day Honors Ebola, Syria And Nepal Health Workers

It’s never been a more dangerous time to be an aid worker.  Yet, when it comes to tending to the immediate needs of victims of natural disasters, disease outbreaks and conflict, medical volunteers remain ready to serve on the frontlines, which is why advocates are honoring their work on this year’s World Humanitarian Day.  Over the past decade, attacks on humanitarian workers have steadily increased to the point of breaking a record in 2013. That year, 474 aid workers were affected by such incidents, according to the U.N.  “When aid workers are attacked, they are unable to help people,” Valerie Amos, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in a statement. “Those who target aid workers are penalizing the most vulnerable people in the world; those who are struggling to survive.” Despite such risks, doctors, nurses and health counselors continue to shirk cushy jobs in order to use their life-saving skills to rescue people in the most need. Here are a few of their stories.   U.S.-Based Doctor Died After Treating Ebola Victims Dr. Martin Salia gave up "the luxuries of the United States" to serve people affected by Ebola in his homeland, and died fulfilling that mission, Bockari Stevens, the Sierra Leonean ambassador to the U.S., said in his eulogy in November. A permanent U.S. resident, Salia was born and raised in Kenema, Sierra Leone and trained in both Africa and the ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news