Seven years ago today I walked out of the hospital after surviving Ebola.
That day at a news conference—my knees shaking—I begged the world to focus on the still-raging outbreak in West Africa. Instead, when the immediate threat was over, we moved on.
Years later, Covid hit 🧵
That day at a news conference—my knees shaking—I begged the world to focus on the still-raging outbreak in West Africa. Instead, when the immediate threat was over, we moved on.
Years later, Covid hit 🧵
There were so many lessons we should've learned from Ebola.
Foremost amongst them was the importance of global solidarity in responding to global health threats.
But that's a lesson we just didn't learn. Instead, we dodged a bullet and we moved on.
thelancet.com/journals/lance…
Foremost amongst them was the importance of global solidarity in responding to global health threats.
But that's a lesson we just didn't learn. Instead, we dodged a bullet and we moved on.
thelancet.com/journals/lance…
Few people knew that the New York City hospital where I was treated for Ebola had more doctors than Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone—the 3 hardest-hit countries of the Ebola outbreak—COMBINED.
And SO many frontline providers in those countries died of Ebola during the outbreak.
And SO many frontline providers in those countries died of Ebola during the outbreak.
I'm forever grateful for the amazing care I received. It's why I beat the odds and survived Ebola.
Yet at the same time so many of my colleagues in Africa got infected, fell ill and died without access to the care they deserved.
The care they deserved was the care I received.
Yet at the same time so many of my colleagues in Africa got infected, fell ill and died without access to the care they deserved.
The care they deserved was the care I received.
It's easy to dismiss this as a problem of a different time or a different outbreak.
But the same thing is happening right now.
Over 115,000 healthcare workers have already died from Covid around the world.
Without immediate action, many more will.
statnews.com/2021/10/21/who…
But the same thing is happening right now.
Over 115,000 healthcare workers have already died from Covid around the world.
Without immediate action, many more will.
statnews.com/2021/10/21/who…
Because of global vaccine inequity, many of my colleagues STILL don't have access to a vaccine.
I'm coming up on the one-year anniversary of receiving my Covid vaccine. I've spent more of this pandemic vaccinated than unvaccinated. And like my treatment for Ebola, I'm grateful.
I'm coming up on the one-year anniversary of receiving my Covid vaccine. I've spent more of this pandemic vaccinated than unvaccinated. And like my treatment for Ebola, I'm grateful.
Yet healthcare workers all around the world are still treating Covid patients without the protection of a vaccine. And for many, it'll be many more months—or longer—until they'll get a dose.
This cannot stand. We must urgently do more to get them vaccinated, now!
This cannot stand. We must urgently do more to get them vaccinated, now!
Seven years ago I stood on a podium, my voice breaking and my knees shaking, as I asked the world to focus on the epicenter of the outbreak.
With Covid, the epicenter is everywhere. But still healthcare workers are still leading the fight. And today, too many remain unprotected.
With Covid, the epicenter is everywhere. But still healthcare workers are still leading the fight. And today, too many remain unprotected.
Global vaccine inequity is a stain on nations who gobbled up enough doses to vaccinate their populations 5x over while health workers around the world go to work everyday with their life on the line.
It's an indictment of pharma companies who've put profits in front of people.
It's an indictment of pharma companies who've put profits in front of people.
Like my amazing care for Ebola 7 years ago, we can all be grateful for the access we've had to the vaccines that've made us so much safer.
But at the same time, we must remain passionate and ardent advocates for getting the most vulnerable around the world access to the same.
But at the same time, we must remain passionate and ardent advocates for getting the most vulnerable around the world access to the same.
That's because the lives of some of the most amazing healthcare workers I've ever met depend on it.
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