• Betsy Baldwin

The Salvation Army Response to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa

What is the Salvation Army Doing?

The Salvation Army Liberia Command is responding to the outbreak. There are currently 6 projects in Liberia that have helped over 23,000 people. In Sierra Leone, also a part of Liberia Command, a project will start soon to assist 4,500 people. These projects have assisted those in quarantine with food, provided chlorine, awareness raising campaigns, assistance to families who have lost family members and personal protective equipment for health care workers. The Salvation Army is not providing direct medical treatment. SAWSO funded one of these projects aimed to support 1,000 men; 2,500 women; and 1,500 children in quarantine with food and water.

There are currently no cases of Ebola virus disease in Ghana, however the Ghana Territory is about to begin a proactive response in 12 health centers providing personal protective equipment and education.

In addition to the community based response, a fund has been set up at the request of the General to support TSA officers, employees and their families who are or have had family members suffer from the disease. SAWSO supported this project, and additional funds are needed.

What are the Salvation Army’s plans for the future?

Each week Liberia Command develops more projects and plans for the recovery that will that need funding, currently they are:

1. Assist 11 schools with disinfectant, repairs and replacement furniture, supplies and salary allowance for teachers in anticipation of schools reopening in January 2015. $239,000 of funding needed
2. Support orphans and vulnerable children whose families have been affected by Ebola. Funding amount to be determined.
3. Three month food distribution for a community in Liberia with a high death toll, focusing on 500 families. $104,000
4. Post-Ebola Support to Farmers. This project will support farmers to return to their fields. Funding amount to be determined.

 

Background

The first case of Ebola virus disease appeared in Sierra Leone in March 2014, and spread to humans from close contact or consumption of fruit bats. Since the discovery of the disease in 1976 there have been 24 outbreaks in various parts of Africa that have been contained and ended. The fatality rate for people infected with Ebola is between 40% - 90%, with the current outbreak closer to 60% fatality rate. Current new infections are still rising rapidly and ongoing work to educate people on transmission, provide isolation for those with suspected cases, provide rapid testing facilities, and safely bury the bodies of those who have died is needed.

Currently, a large international aid response is underway in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. The World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are the main organizations overseeing and monitoring this outbreak. The US Government has given $414 million to support the response and deployed public health staff, military engineers, and NGO response projects.

Map

U.S. State Department Humanitarian Information Unit Map of the Crisis:
https://hiu.state.gov/Products/Africa_EbolaDiseaseWithoutBorders_2014Aug11_HIU_U1064.pdf

More questions? Please reach out to Betsy Baldwin, Technical Advisor – Disaster Relief and Recovery, SAWSO. Betsy_baldwin@usn.salvationarmy.org or 703-299-5541.

Video

Donatations

https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/sawso/sawso-ebola