THE Abbot government's dithering response to the Ebola crisis in Western Africa is just so embarrassing for Australia's reputation, already tarnished through its attitude to the climate change issue.
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Ebola is overwhelming the capacity of poor countries to deal with the emergency.
Their health infrastructure is very basic at the best of times, and they are in danger of becoming failed states with thousand of new infections expected in the very near future.
Many of the doctors and nurses in these countries have already died or are infected.
They simply do not have the modern technology or material resources to deal with this situation.
Many countries, including China and Cuba, are sending in medical teams with proper equipment.
I would assume that they would all have contingency plans in place to evacuate any personnel who get infected.
Australia cannot stand by like a coward and expect other nations to do all the heavy lifting in this dire emergency.
Financial domains to aid groups will not cut the mustard here.
Australis is a wealthy country, the envy of many other nations, with a first-rate health system and the resources to respond to any threat like Ebola.
The nation's interest is best served by Australia sending volunteer medical teams to the source countries to assist with the speedy eradication of this outbreak at its sources.
Team Australia needs to be a part of Team Humanity, for a change.
— KEVIN O'DEA, Launceston.
