'WAKE UP CALL TO THE WORLD' says Israeli Professor

Samoa’s measles crisis is a “wake up call for the world,” because it has set a precedent for all countries to follow the example set by the Samoa Government, says the Director of the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response, Professor Elhanan Bar-On.

Professor Bar-on with close to three decades experience in Humanitarian and Emergency Response is urging all Samoan residents to support the Government’s Mass Vaccination Campaign. “Your Government’s decision for compulsory vaccination is an example for the World to follow,” he complimented. “It is the right decision.”  

He says that the epidemic is a lesson to the world on the impact of the anti-vaccination movement. “Anti-vaccination movements exists in every country and they have no shame in the consequences of their campaign,” he said.

The Professor who has been in contact with the team leader on the ground in Samoa RN Assaf Luttinger, Deputy Director of the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response, echoed other overseas medical helpers praise saying that he has been impressed with the Samoan Health Care Workers. 

“I am more impressed with the Samoan health care workers, from nurses to doctors and all the supporting services who have been dealing with the crisis since day one,” he said. “They have performed exceptionally well in dealing with the rapid spread and first flow of patients and casualties,” he added. “It’s unfortunate that many of the mortalities are young children and I pray for the crisis to end without any further loss of life.”

He also reaffirmed the “spirit of solidarity” between the Samoan health care workers and their international Emergency Management Teams colleagues from around the world who have been responding in one spirit and unity to the crisis.

“It sets the precedent to hear some of the world’s best EMT working side by side with one another to complemented their Samoan counterparts to deliver the best emergency treatment response under these circumstances and it speaks volumes of our human spirit regardless of race, religion and nationality and it must be commended and acknowledged,” he added.

The Israeli team are medical experts from the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response based with the Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer.  The team which includes six nurses and two paediatric specialists are Israel’s answer to Samoa’s plea for help via the World Health Organisation network.

“It’s part of our DNA to respond whenever our services are needed,” says Professor Bar-On and he is optimistic that response from his country will be the start of a future relationships between the Health Sectors of the two countries.