Emergency Telecommunications Cluster
ET Cluster's job is to provide Internet and radio communications to aid workers in emergencies.
The ET Cluster is helping to resolve this situation across the region so that ETUs can offer the high standards of care needed to save the lives of Ebola victims. The ETU’s admin room was filled with stacks of papers and sticky notes which lined the walls. All that could be easily organized with simple Internet tools like Dropbox, Google docs, and email accessible through connectivity provided by the ET Cluster. Health workers in the “red zone” – where Ebola patients are cordoned off from the rest of the camps – had to yell to their colleagues in the “green zone” to ask for supplies and provide updates on patient statuses. In an environment where miscommunication can mean the difference between life and death, bringing in these vital services can reduce fatal errors. ET Cluster, together with our members NetHope, Ericsson Response, and Emergency.lu have provided both staff and equipment and installed the Internet network that helps health workers do their jobs and save lives.