London, Jun 12 (IANS): Britain has created a new medal to recognise the bravery and hard work of people who have helped to tackle Ebola in West Africa, Downing Street announced on Thursday.

The medal is set to be awarded to over 3,000 people who travelled from Britain to work in high risk areas to stop the spread of the disease.

This is the first time a medal has been created specifically to recognise those who have tackled a humanitarian crisis, Xinhua quoted Downing Street as saying in a statement.

The medal has been designed by veteran engraver and artist John Bergdahl, whose design was chosen following a competition run by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee.

The medal will be awarded to military and civilian personnel who have been tackling Ebola on behalf of Britain in West Africa, including members of the armed forces, doctors and nurses from the National Health Service (NHS), laboratory specialists, members of the civil service and so on.

The first awards of the medal will be produced as early as this summer and will be sent to the recipients thereafter.