"Sierra Leone: into the Ebola epicentre" by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 .

PGA and its global membership of over 1,000 Members in 139 countries worldwide continues to monitor with growing alarm and deep concern the rapidly deteriorating situation following the most recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa earlier this year.

Nearly 1,500 lives have been lost in just a matter of a few months.

A vital and urgent need exists to provide medical and logistical assistance to all affected countries and people.

From here in Freetown, I urge all my friends and colleagues in PGA to do all that they can to persuade their respective Foreign Ministries and Development Cooperation/Overseas Aid Departments to send much needed basic medical supplies and other logistical support to Sierra Leone and other affected countries in our region. We must do all we can to eradicate this horrific disease and prevent it spreading further afield. Dr. Bernadette Lahai MP, PGA Member and former Executive Committee Member (Sierra Leone)

The situation in Liberia is increasingly grave and deadly serious. It has claimed the highest recorded number of deaths ever in a single outbreak of this disease in any nation. On behalf of the National Group here in Monrovia, we appeal to all our brothers and sisters worldwide in PGA to draw the matter to the attention of their relevant Governments Ministries and urge them to help in whatever way they can. Mr. Gabriel Smith MP, Chair of PGA National Group (Liberia)

PGA, therefore, calls on all its Members to take the following, immediate steps:

• Approach directly – by writing or telephone communications - your Foreign/Development Cooperation/Overseas Aid Ministries and urgently inquire about your Government’s efforts to date to assist Governments in affected countries in Africa to address and contain the Ebola virus, urging prompt provision of desperately needed medical supplies and logistical support
• Raise the matter in your Parliament, as a matter of pressing global concern – Plenary and relevant Committees (Health Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Overseas Development Cooperation Committee) – with a view to mobilizing further support for action among your colleagues
• Explore ways of sharing information on the spread of the disease at all levels of society in affected countries to overcome informational gaps and lack of knowledge about how the disease is transmitted
• Oppose the suspension of flights to and from affected countries which has a detrimental impact on the supply of urgently needed medical supplies and personnel and instead encourage your respective Ministries and Immigration authorities to put in place proper screening mechanisms for individuals travelling to and from these countries