A local AM has raised awareness of the British Red Cross Ebola Emergency Appeal in the National Assembly for Wales.
Samuel Lauder, an Environmental Health practitioner from Newtown, who usually works for Powys County Council, has recently returned from Sierra Leone where he was part of a British Red Cross team helping to tackle the Ebola outbreak.
Sam was deployed on a four week mission as an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) health delegate to the International Federation of the Red Cross’ Ebola Treatment Centre in Kenema.
In questions to the Leader of the House, Russell George, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, asked for the Welsh Government to lend its support to the appeal.
Mr George said:
“I was pleased to be able to raise awareness of the British Red Cross Ebola Emergency Appeal following Sam’s selfless commitment towards the people of West Africa in helping them tackle the Ebola outbreak.
“I’m proud that Sam represented Powys by taking part in this project, working alongside national and international staff to rid West Africa of this devastating disease.
“I have encouraged the Welsh Government to follow Powys’ lead by doing more to support voluntary work in West Africa, vital work which is so invaluable in helping countries such as Sierra Leone recover from the after effects of this deadly disease.”
The Business Minister and Leader of the House, Jane Hutt AM, committed to working with Cabinet colleagues to raise awareness of the British Red Cross Ebola emergency appeal within their respective departments and congratulated Sam Lauder and Powys County Council on supporting voluntary work to tackle Ebola in West Africa.