News outlets discuss how Ebola is straining already struggling health systems in West Africa and those countries’ calls for additional assistance.

Devex: More money, people and coordination needed to contain Ebola — E.U. expert
“European scientists are working round the clock at the prestigious Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome to set up a mobile laboratory soon to be deployed in Ebola-affected villages in West Africa. This will be the second such lab emerging from the EuropeAid-funded Emlab project, which seeks to establish ‘three deployable mobile laboratory units for the detection and diagnosis of infectious pathogens up to the highest risk group 4’…” (Pasquini, 8/22).

NPR: Why Ebola Is Making It Harder To Provide Good Health Care
“[Fewer malaria cases will be treated] because some health clinics have closed as a result of Ebola — out of panic, or because the virus has taken a toll on staff — and partly because families are afraid to come to clinics because they think they might catch Ebola there. But it’s also partly because community health workers — who are trained to help identify children in need of care for malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia — are being told to back off [from drawing blood for diagnostic tests]…” (Harris, 8/21).

Reuters: More medics urgently needed to fight West Africa Ebola: experts
“Hospitals battling the Ebola outbreak in West Africa desperately need more staff, as local doctors leave their posts and foreign doctors are reluctant to come forward, medical experts said during an online debate on the disease…” (Whiting, 8/21).

Reuters: Surviving Ebola: Africa cries out for health care boost
“Surviving sickness can make you stronger. So while a western corner of Africa writhes in the deadly grip of the Ebola virus, there are signs this emergency may serve as a wake-up call to strengthen spending and investment on public health care in the world’s least developed continent…” (Stoddard/Fletcher, 8/21).