Ebola Crisis in West Africa - Prevention and Complementary Care - Plan Canada 2014

November 2014 - On August 8 2014 the World Health Organization declared the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa an international health emergency. The Ebola outbreak started in Guinea and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. There have been more than 15 000 cases of Ebola virus in Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone to date including more than 5 400 deaths. The current outbreak is unprecedented in terms of its scale geographic reach humanitarian impact as well as its social and economic repercussions. The number of cases and deaths surpass all previous Ebola epidemics combined. With DFATD’s support Plan International Canada is helping to reduce and control the spread of the Ebola virus in Nimba and Montserrado counties of Liberia. Project activities include: (1) sterilization of 200 schools and equipping them with thermometers to quickly detect fever hand washing buckets and chlorine; (2) training teachers and community health workers in Ebola screening referral and safe school protocols; (3) pre-positioning basic water and sanitation kits in high-risk communities for preparedness; (4) training 100 mobile health workers on Ebola prevention and control; and (5) providing support to six local civil society organisations to implement Ebola interventions at the community level.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) standards in targeted schools and communities to prevent Ebola transmission; and (2) strengthened capacity of Liberian local civil society organizations to implement Ebola interventions at the community level; The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or acute food insecurity.