Contact Tracing Skills of Irish Aid Community should be tapped
The skillset of workers in the Irish Aid community who may have worked on contact tracing as part of their response to previous epidemics like Ebola should be tapped for the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Ireland said Labour TD for Cork East, and former Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“The Minister for Health has advised today that there will be a large increase in resources dedicated to contact tracing efforts for confirmed Covid-19 cases in Ireland in the days ahead. While I am reassured that the State is working to provide all resources as may be needed to tackle the emerging epidemic, there are skillsets in the NGO sector that can also be deployed.
“Many development aid charities such as Trocaire, Concern and Goal, and indeed those working within Irish Aid may have previously worked on contact tracing as part of their efforts responding to previous epidemics like Ebola in sub-Saharan Africa.
“If there are people currently in Ireland who have these skills we should be looking to recruit their expertise immediately to aid the HSE with contact tracing efforts. It really is a case of all hands on deck now, as part of our national effort to contain this new coronavirus.
“I have contacted the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Minister for Health with this suggestion and I look forward to hearing from them.”