Naval personnel presented with Ebola operational medals

Naval personnel who deployed to Sierra Leone to assist with the Ebola crisis have been presented with their operational medals by the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas.

RFA Argus deployed in October last year as the UK government’s response to the Ebola outbreak with 350 Tri-Service personnel on board – including 80 Royal Navy medical personnel.

The ship spent six months off the coast of Sierra Leone with many medics and logistical personnel joining their Army colleagues on the ground to offer frontline support. 

During her time away the ship ensured 16,000 people received a month’s worth of food, more than 400 patients were treated and the three Merlin helicopters flew 294 missions from her deck. 

Today (10 Sept) the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas presented medals commemorating their efforts at a ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base. 

I am very proud and honoured to have been recognised today for the work we did in Sierra Leone.

Chief Petty Officer Naval Nurse Anne Evans

Chief Petty Officer Naval Nurse Anne Evans was deployed for nearly three months with 34 Field Hospital as an Infection Control Nurse.

“I am very proud and honoured to have been recognised today for the work we did in Sierra Leone,” she said. 

“I worked at the Kerry Town Treatment Centre which cared for healthcare workers who were suspected to have been infected with Ebola.

"We worked extremely closely with the local population and it was extremely rewarding for me to see that the work we were doing had such a positive effect.”

Commanding Officer of RFA Argus Captain David Eagles said: “It is fantastic to see RFA Argus in Portsmouth. Today is about recognising the personal contribution RFA Argus personnel gave in support of the UK’s response to the Ebola epidemic.”

The ceremony also marks 25 years of the Primary Casualty Receiving Facility on board RFA Argus – which consists of a 100-bed hospital including a 4-bay operating theatre with a 10 bed Critical Care Unit, a 20 bed High Dependency Unit and a CT Scanner.