Arco Awarded Contract To Support UK Government Humanitarian Response To Ebola Crisis

The UK Government has pledged £125m to support the global effort to contain, control and defeat the disease in Sierra Leone. This will help fund the establishment of a 92-bed medical centre in Sierra Leone as a joint venture between the Department for International Development, Ministry of Defence and Save the Children charity. The first beds are expected to be ready in the coming weeks.

Arco will be supplying around 100,000 protective suits, hoods and gloves each month over the next 5 months in order to protect the frontline medical teams and support staff. The company has acted swiftly to meet the urgent need for protective equipment for those working to control and contain the disease. It has provided advice and expertise on product selection and met the Government’s stringent quality and ethical standards in order to secure the contract.

Justine Greening, International Development Secretary, said: “The UK is leading the international effort to defeat Ebola in Sierra Leone and at the centre of our response is our commitment to providing medical care to up to 8,800 patients over six months.

“Keeping health workers safe is vital to this which is why we are working with British businesses like Arco to ensure that we are providing the very best protection equipment available to tackle Ebola.”

Thomas Martin, Arco’s Joint Managing Director said: “We’ve all read about the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa and seen the devastating effects it is having on families living in the affected areas. Arco is proud to be able play our part in supporting the Government’s initiative to help control the spread of the disease. Through our National Distribution Centre in Hull and our global supply chain network we’ve been able to respond immediately. Working with the Department for International Development, we’ve advised on the selection of the correct protective suits, hoods and gloves.

“Stock is being delivered now to the UK Aid warehouse at Kemble Airport and is being shipped direct to Sierra Leone where it is needed immediately. Everyone involved at Arco is working at full capacity to fulfil this order and help keep people safe in the difficult tasks they face.”