Bruce Johnson Believes Multifaceted Approach is Key to Effectively Addressing Disease Outbreak

Contact: Palmer Holt, 704-662-2569, PHolt@InChristCommunications.com 

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 16, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- SIM USA (www.simusa.org) President Bruce Johnson is encouraged by President Obama's announcement today to send additional medical professionals, provide more hospital beds and train more West Africans to treat the recent outbreak of Ebola.

President Obama announced his plan to help fight the spread of Ebola in West Africa while on a trip to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. His plans include sending 3,000 U.S. military personnel to the region in a broad approach that also includes additional healthcare professionals, doctors and medical facilities.   

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, nearly 2,500 people have died as a result of the latest Ebola outbreak, with nearly 5,000 probable, confirmed and suspected cases.  

"The multifaceted response to the Ebola crisis announced today by President Obama is what we have been hoping for and what is needed in Liberia and West Africa," said Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA. "Three things are vital right now: More beds and equipment, more trained medical professionals, and more training of Liberians and West Africans. This current plan addresses these desperate needs."

SIM had two of the three American missionary workers who contracted Ebola in Liberia and were evacuated to the U.S. for treatment.

"SIM has been one of just a handful of NGOs trying to provide these three essential needs," Johnson continued. "But right now, Ebola has the upper hand. We are praying that having the U.S. and, we hope, other nations and health organizations engage in this way will save lives and stop the escalation of this deadly disease."

SIM's ELWA 2 Ebola Treatment Center in Monrovia has experienced increasing survival rates as a result of consistent and quality medical care supported by prayer. Dr. Jerry Brown, SIM's Liberian medical director, reported that 40 of the 69 Ebola patients in its care center are in stable condition and showing signs of survival.

The latest updates on SIM's role in the Ebola epidemic in Liberia are available at www.simusa.org.
    
SIM (www.simusa.org) is an international Christian mission organization with a staff of nearly 3,000 workers from 70 nationalities serving in more than 65 countries. In addition to medicine, SIM serves on every continent in areas of education, community development, public health and Christian witness. While SIM stood for Sudan Interior Mission when it was founded 120 years ago, it is now a global mission known as SIM. Two of SIM's three founders died of tropical disease within the first year of the organization's founding. Yet SIM continued on to become one of the largest Christian medical missions in the world.

To schedule an interview with Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA, contact Palmer Holt at 704-662-2569 or pholt@inchristcommunications.com.