INTERNATIONAL Development Secretary Justine Greening is with British troops today heading to Sierra Leone to help the fight against Ebola.

The Cabinet minister is flying out from RAF Brize Norton with about 100 soldiers from the Royal Army Medical Corps.

The UK is leading the international response to the disease in West Africa, and has pledged a £125m aid package including suport for 700 treatment beds.

The medics are from Catterick-based 35 Squadron, 5 Armoured Medical Regiment and Royal Army Medical Corps.

They will staff an Ebola training academy alongside 90 personnel from 22 Field Hospital who left for Sierra Leone last week.

Ms Greening will visit the academy, as well as the site of a 92-bed treatment facility in Kerry Town, near the country's capital Freetown, which is in the final stages of being constructed.

She said: "Halting the disease in West Africa is the most effective way of preventing Ebola infecting people here in the UK.

"That is why we are providing 700 treatment beds in Sierra Leone, sending vital supplies such as chlorine and protective clothing, and training hundreds of health workers.

"I look forward to seeing for myself how British Army medics and engineers, as well as our humanitarian and health workers, are spearheading the UK's efforts to contain and ultimately defeat Ebola."

The UK is deploying 750 military personnel, including the Royal Navy medical support ship RFA Argus. 

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