Thank goodness for these brave, selfless people

I think I should also have added those doctors, nurses and health workers from the affected areas who have stayed to help or who have travelled from "safe" areas to affected areas to help.

Dr Geraldine O Hara's diary on BBC 4 was heartbreaking, my friend's son is going to Sierra Leone, just a caring nurse brought up by caring parents, what an awful world it would be without people like them, makes me feel very humble.

I could not do it either, henetha and I admire them tremendously, as I admire also all the people who work for MSF despite risks to themselves.

This Panorama programme was really moving www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30054775

Yes, people do have to have a sense of adventure to do this, otherwise they would stay safely at home, but I think they are all very well aware of the risks and still go anyway. I would describe them as selfless.

Well, whatever their motives might be, I have nothing but heartfelt admiration for their courage. They make me feel humble, knowing that I could never do what they are doing. We all have our reasons for doing or not doing something, but in their case, how can there be any reason to doubt their courage and dedication.

Hear, hear!
Galen - not exactly what I meant.

There is no hidden agenda, they just get on and do the work. It takes guts to do it, they are selfless.

And me!
Cut off in our prime we were!

At last!

They are indeed brave if they have been selected GrannyTwice.

These people know exactly what they are entering into.

Their motive? To help treat people with an illness in any way they can. That is why they are members of the medical profession.

I have the greatest respect for them.

The selection procedure for these volunteers is lengthy and thorough. It includes psychological testing as they want to rule out risk takers and romantics. They reject far more volunteers than they accept and the training is very in- depth. What an unpleasant post soon.

I think they would be well aware that, although there are strict safety procedures in place, mistakes can, and do, happen and there is risk to life involved. They are definitely brave, and worthy of respect.

Not quite sure what an ulterior motive could be, in this case.
My son knows quite a few people in Sierra Leone. The Christian Brothers set up schools for street kids and orphans. I would hate to think that they would be accused of ulterior motives.
The school was arranging a trip so the boys could see what life was like there. They do that every year, and help to build toilets and classrooms, etc. This year's has been cancelled.

I don't think we should question their motives [although I can't think of any other than wanting to help this terrible outbreak to end] but there has been a lot of coverage of how dangerous ebola is, and since they are medical people anyway, they will be well aware of the dangers. I take my hat off to them for going out there to help.

I could not agree less with your post soontobe! If we in the "first world" cannot share our expertise and resources with those who are in need what kind of society is this? I think you insult their intelligence if you think they are unaware of the risks and their integrity if you wish to suggest any ulterior motive

I dont like to see things that are not always quite as they seem jinglbellsfrocks.
Am happy not to post again on this thread.

And the point of that post was soontobe?

I admire them. I am assuming that as intelligent trained members of the medical/para-medical professions they do understand the risks; which makes their actions all the more admirable.

Oh crumbs. Hate writing this post.
Sometimes, just sometimes, people have other reasons too for doing these sorts of things.
Including thnking nothing will happen to them, and totally underestimating risk. And thinking that they are going to be 100% well protected. And likes adventure.

But yes, I wouldnt be keen to go either.

The charity behind this is UK-Med which was set up nearly 20 years age. Volunteers go to a whole range of international disaster areas. Earlier this yearI was extremely lucky to be working with Prof Tony Redmond who set the charity up. He is absolutely amazing - a really good man who is extremely modest and unassuming about the work that he has inspired. He's the sort of person who makes you want to be a better person yourself. I really treasure the time I spent with him

Here, here!