The Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa

• Time Period: Post-WW2
• Year of Institution: June 2015
• Country: Great Britain

The Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa (also known simply as the Ebola Medal) is a service medal issued to the Armed Forces and to civilians, working either for Her Majesty’s Government or for non-governmental organisations, in support of the British Government’s response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa between March 2014 and March 2016.

The medal is the first medal awarded by the UK Government for a humanitarian crisis response.

The medal is awarded either for 21 days of continuous service within the operating area, or 30 days accumulated service on working visits of 48 hours or more to the operating area. The following groups are eligible for award:

• Military personnel under the command of Commander, Joint Operations, and other members of UK Armed Forces providing direct support to HM Government’s response.
• Any volunteer or employee directly deployed by the Department for International Development (DFID), UK-Med, Public Health England, the National Health Service or the Stabilisation Unit in support of HM Government’s response.
• Any member of Her Majesty’s Civil Service.
• Any UK national employed by an NGO funded by the DFID supporting HM Government’s response.
• Any UK national responding to the Ebola crisis in support of HM Government’s response whose service can be verified.

The Ebola Medal for Service Design

The medal is circular, struck in nickel-silver and manufactured by Worcestershire Medal Service. It measures  36mm diameter and is suspended from a ribbon by way of a swivel straight bar.

The obverse was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, has the legend “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID.DEF.” and the effigy of Elizabeth II wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The reverse is designed by John Bergdahl, and features a flame on a background depicting the Ebola virus – above this are the words “For Service” and below “West Africa Ebola Epidemic”.

The name of the recipient (name and title if civilian; name, rank and serial number if military) is engraved on the rim of the medal.

The ribbon is a central yellow stripe, flanked by blue and white stripes, and symmetrical red stripes flanked by green stripes either side. These represent the colours from the national flags of the countries in West Africa affected by Ebola.