Hazmat suits, body bags are being sold in Melbourne

Confronting pop-up shops across the city are selling hazmat suits, body bags and chlorine as a grim campaign kicks off.

Will and Elise Mezner in hazmat suits in Melbourne. Picture: Sarah Matray

Hazmat suits and body bags are being sold in confronting pop-up shops across Melbourne to draw attention to the deadly ebola crisis.

World Vision Australia this week launched its latest campaign catalogue, selling the microfibre fabric suits for $40, PVC infection-control body bags for $30, rubber boots for $10 and bottles of chlorine for $25.

The charity’s Will Mezner said the organisation made “no apologises” for the grim campaign.

“This is the world’s most confronting pop up shop, and is the shop we wish we didn’t have to open,” he said.

“In fact, the sooner it’s shut down the better.”

The pop-up shops will appear across the city, including in laneways and on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral, during the next fortnight.

Health workers go door-to-door in the Beni neighbourhoods, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, to listen to families about their fear of the Ebola virus. Picture: Alexis Huguet/AFP

It comes as a Victorian aid worker has told of desperation and tragedy after seeing first-hand the growing ebola death toll in central Africa.

With the number of fatalities expected to surpass 2000 this week and 10 new cases identified daily, Save the Children’s Sacha Myers said international help must be bolstered urgently.

So far there have been 2822 confirmed cases of ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including at least 154 health workers.

Sacha Myers. Picture: Evan Schuurman/Save the Children

“Travelling from my home in Ballarat to the heart of the ebola crisis in the DRC was surreal, going from a country with some of the best medical facilities in the world to one of the toughest places for children to grow up in,” Ms Myers said.

One of the biggest challenges addressing ebola was myth and misinformation, with some locals blaming witchcraft and others believing vaccinations spread the disease.

“Most people in the villages don’t know ebola is transferred through bodily fluids like sweat or that simple things like not shaking hands can greatly reduce the risk.

“So far the international community has failed to do enough to curb the spread of ebola, and treat those affected by the disease. With the situation getting worse by the day, we need leaders around the world to significantly step up their support.”

The federal government has pledge $2.5 million in assistance but Ms Myers said ordinary Australians could also help groups like Save the Children supply medical and food aid, triage units and education in the hardest-hit Beni region.

“Whenever I travel to crises around the world, I feel great pride when I see Australian aid helping families who have lost everything.

“However, the scale of this crisis means we have another important opportunity to show global leadership by stepping up our support even more.”

For more information go to worldvision.com.au/ebola