Working Together: The Key to Stopping Deadly Ebola Virus

According to our latest reports, none of the 58,000 children and their families supported through our programmes in Sierra Leone contracted the deadly virus owing to effective community engagement practices.

Leslie Scott, World Vision Sierra Leone National Director, said:

“We are extremely proud of our community partners in the districts we work in across Sierra Leone: the parents, teachers, paramount chiefs, faith leaders and government officials. Together, we have successfully helped to achieve and maintain zero new cases of Ebola for months now.’

He explained:

“We are winning the war on Ebola, but it’s not over yet. It only takes one case to reignite the outbreak, so there is no room for complacency. We need ongoing international support not only to beat Ebola in Sierra Leone, but to transform national systems and structures across West Africa, so that we can avert future outbreaks."

The worst Ebola outbreak in history produced some 27,600 infections in the three countries, of which 11,253 were fatal. Although the epidemic has waned from its peak at the end of last year, when hundreds of new cases were diagnosed every week, it has so far proved impossible to eradicate completely.

Reflecting on World Vision’s accomplishments, Scott said early community engagement and effective communication of prevention messages was key to the charity’s successes in preventing the spread of Ebola.

Scott recalled:

“Having worked in Sierra Leone for over 20 years, World Vision mobilised its extensive networks early in the crisis. At first, rumours were rife and people didn’t know what or who to believe. Such misinformation and fear was deadly. I remember seeing corpses abandoned in the streets of Freetown. Even the global experts weren’t sure how to respond at first."

He added:

“However, people in communities where we work heeded to calls for vigilance, and worked together to stem the outbreak’s spread. Working in close collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, World Vision has reached an estimated 1.56 million people through its Ebola Emergency Response."

Some of World Vision’s activities include:

• Conducting over 29,000 safe and dignified burials. Staff of over 800 are part of burial teams supported by World Vision, Catholic Relief Services and CAFOD
• Over 1,000 health care professionals and 950 community health workers trained in infection prevention and control
• 1,000 teachers trained in psychosocial first aid for children, using training manual co-produced by Ministry of Education and Technology, World Vision, UNICEF, and other NGOs
• 30,000 radios distributed to children to support broadcast education during nine-month school closure

How You Can Help

• Sponsor a child: Sponsorship makes a long-term investment in the life of a child, his/her family and community, providing greater access to life-giving basics like nutritious food, clean water, medical care, and education -- the foundation for a future of independence and hope.
• Share our VISION: Be a part of our ongoing campaigns to raise awareness for children caught up in conflict and/or poverty by sharing this message with the world. Use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest to spread the word. Raise your voice and let others know how important it is to invest in the lives of children.

Source: (http://www.worldvision.org.uk/news-and-views/latest-news/2015-news/july/ebola-one-year-community-partnerships-draw-west-africa-close/)