Iqarus has deployed a specialist 19-person medical and operational team to
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in response to an urgent requirement to
establish and operate a dedicated quarantine, isolation and holding capability in
support of the response to Ebola.
The deployment provides a rapidly established environment for the safe assessment
and holding of individuals suspected of Ebola virus disease, supporting effective
infection prevention and control while helping protect patients, healthcare personnel
and the wider community.
Rapidly Deployable Specialist Medical Capability
The Iqarus team is operating a dedicated facility capable of receiving and managing
individuals requiring quarantine or isolation while their clinical status is assessed.
Where Ebola is confirmed or remains clinically suspected, patients are safely cared for
and held pending coordinated onward movement to designated definitive treatment
facilities.
The 19-person multidisciplinary team brings together medical, nursing, infection
prevention and control, operational and support expertise. This integrated capability
enables the safe operation and sustainment of the facility and its clinical functions.
The deployment is operating under stringent infection prevention and control principles.
These include controlled patient and staff flows, appropriate use of personal protective
equipment, clinical surveillance, decontamination procedures, waste management and
protocols for the safe movement of patients.
Supporting Healthcare Delivery in Complex Environments
The deployment demonstrates Iqarus’ ability to rapidly mobilise specialist personnel
and establish healthcare capability in complex operating environments, combining
clinical expertise, infection prevention and control, operational planning and medical
coordination.
“Responding effectively to an infectious disease threat requires much more than
deploying clinical personnel. It requires robust infection prevention and control,
carefully planned patient pathways and the operational capability to establish and
sustain safe healthcare delivery in challenging environments. Our team brings together
the specialist clinical and operational expertise required to provide that capability,” said
Professor Mansoor Khan, Regional Medical Director at Iqarus.
The deployment reflects Iqarus’ experience delivering healthcare in conflict, post conflict, humanitarian and other complex operating environments, supporting governments and international organisations with specialist medical capability where it
is needed most.
