Ebola outbreak and medical supply theft.

Praise God that it appears the recent Ebola outbreak appears to be mostly contained for now, although new cases continue to show up. The 35 known deaths are tragic and more deaths are likely, but the potential toll could have been far, far worse. Included in those 35 dead are a number of health workers who gave their lives trying to help others. Sadly we know that the health center where they worked faced shortages such as a lack of gloves which likely contributed to their deaths. Recent headlines in the Ugandan paper shows that massive thefts of health supplies worth several hundred million shillings from the Ugandan National Medical Stores have been discovered. Stolen items included pain medicine, penicillin, IV fluids, bandages and gloves. If it were not for theft, would some of these people still be alive? We may never know exactly what happened, but human sin is part of life here on earth. One essential aspect in the effort of disease contol can never be stolen--that is health education. That is a gift which cannot be diverted and will serve for a lifetime.