URGENT APPEAL FOR EBOLA OUTBREAK IN SIERRA LEONE

Sierra Leone's Kailahun eastern province, the world's largest Ebola outbreak continues to spread through remote villages. One of the few lines of defence comes from a treatment centre run by the charity International Islamic Youth League, African Youth Development Centre (IIYL/AYDC). While there is no specific cure for the disease, treatment of its symptoms can significantly reduce its fatality rate. With an overstretched team and a series of logistical obstacles inherent in treating a contagious virus in a remote location, the centre is doing what it can.

It's promising to see that the limited amount of things we can do is having such a major effect," says IIYL/AYDC Dr. Abdullah Jalloh. "We're bringing down the mortality rate significantly". About four out of 10 patients at the center will survive, he says. A huge improvement from the 10 percent survivial rate in previous outbreaks.

But one crucial problem remains - the chronic fear of hospitals, fuelled by rumours of limb harvesting and blood theft, is dissuading people from seeking medical help.

Not only does this increase the risk of death, but by keeping infected people in the community, and burying the bodies without professional medical assistance, it also exacerbates the spread of the disease.

Teams of International Islamic Youth League, African Youth Development Centre (IIYL/AYDC) volunteers are doing their best to teach people to recognise and respect the danger posed by Ebola. But in a district with nearly half a million people, there are still many villages yet to be reached. Others hear the message but are reluctant to accept it.

Winning the trust of the community is key to ending the current outbreak. But it takes time and resources that the on-the-ground doesn't possess. "We are running behind Ebola," according to Mr. Mohamed Alieu Tarawally, head of Programme of International Islamic Youth League, African Youth Development Centre (IIYL-AYDC) activities in Kailahun. I've never seen this before.

This International Islamic Youth League, African Youth Development Centre (IIYL-AYDC) HAS distributed aimed to feed about 1,000 families over two days. Family rations are 50kg rice, 9kg split peas, four litres of cooking oil and salt. International Islamic Youth League, African Youth Development Centre (IIYL/AYDC) is also helping with the logistics of dealing with Ebola, providing beds. Our teams will visit Liberia and Guinea for need assessment mission for possible humanitarian support, to the affected Ebola families.

Njala Giema is a village in eastern Sierra Leone, set deep in the forest off the highway from Kenema to Kailahun. The hamlet had a population of about 200 people; at least 61 have died since Ebola struck in October. Locals say the disease was brought by relatives of a nurse infected in the nearest town, Daru. The village has been in lockdown as Sierra Leone quarantined a million people in an attempt to slow Ebola’s spread. Meanwhile, in Kenema, to the west of the village, people have been queuing in heavy rain to collect food parcels. Must of Hospital including health were visit are lack of medicines, and medical supply, we need urgent Ebola Vaccines’ and medical supply to support Sierra Leone, this effort will implement through the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and local communities in the country.

URGENT APPEAL FOR EBOLA OUTBREAK IN SIERRA LEONE

Sierra Leone is found along the Atlantic Coast of West Africa with a population of six million people. The country is being encircled with two countries having the EBOLA outbreak which started in Guinea, moved to Liberia and Sierra Leone all countries belonging to the Mano River Union and ECOWAS.

The EBOLA Virus outbreak entered Sierra Leone in April/May, 2014 by a Traditional Healer/Herbalist who contracted it in the Republic of Guinea unknowingly and since that time, several people who initially contacted the Traditional Herbalist died and all other close family members and friends have gone into eternity.

Majority of those that have died and continue to die as a result of the EBOLA Virus are Medical Workers, their close relatives community persons living in remote communities in Sierra Leone who do not have access to Radios or are hardly reached.

A good number of Medical Workers and innocent community people have died and continue to die on daily basis as a result of the Virus.

The spread of the EBOLA Killer disease/virus in Sierra Leone and West Africa is enormous and Health Workers overstretched with the continuous victims and deaths coupled with the inadequate Protective Gears. 2,000 and more people have been confirmed dead (September/October, 2014) in the three West African countries as a result of the EBOLA prevalence.

The prevalence of the EBOLA Virus/disease in West Africa has been declared as a World Health Emergency by the WHO.

In pursuit to eradicate EBOLA in Sierra Leone, the President declared a State Health Emergency nationwide.Eradication of EBOLA in Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS/Mano River Union Countries could not be accomplished by the Governments alone. It is incumbent of all citizens of the various States to actively come on board to vigorously fight the EBOLA Virus/Disease. The Republics of Guinea and Liberia have closed their Borders with Sierra Leone.

The Government has ordered to shoot on sight anybody who attempts to cross using foot paths into Liberia at night from the Sierra Leone side of the Border.

EBOLA affected communities in Sierra Leone have been quarantined and are going through a period of challenges, suffering and destitution.

Our Organization has therefore seen it a need to be actively involved in the eradication fight against EBOLA through Public Education/Community-Based Awareness Creation in Sierra Leonean Communities closer to the Republics of Guinea and Liberian Borders.

Your urgent contribution to support the affected Ebola affected in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia is needed, their over 500 Ebola orphans who are urgently required for Humanitarian assistance and Educational Care, as they has lost their families. (USD 200) will support one Ebola families for a full month. You can transfer fund to IIYL Sierra Leone account