Concern over adequate protection for health workers treating the Ebola virus has prompted nurses in the United States to stage protests today.
According to Reuters, several nurses unions point to a severe lack of proper equipment for treating possible Ebola patients as the motivation for the strike. Charles Idelson, spokesman for National Nurses United, reinforced this point, telling Reuters: "Inadequate preparedness for Ebola symbolizes the erosion of patient care standards generally."
Reuters reports that thousands of nurses are expected to participate:
National Nurses United expects some 100,000 nurses in more than a dozen U.S. states, in Washington DC and also in several other countries including Australia and the Philippines to take part in the day of action on Wednesday.
Most nurses in the campaign will not walk off the job but will hold rallies and demonstrations to bring the issue of inadequate Ebola protection to public attention, Idelson said. Some nurses will hold a vigil outside the White House.
Lastly, Reuters adds that the Centers for Disease Control claims to have purchased nearly $3 million worth of protective gear in order to help hospitals treat possible Ebola patients safely and properly.
[via Reuters]
