Ebola Crisis in West Africa - Awareness Water and Sanitation - Oxfam Québec 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 over 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 Oxfam Québec is helping to reduce and control the spread of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone. Project activities include: (1) conducting public health promotion activities and disseminating educational messages to increase awareness and knowledge of prevention techniques and personal and environmental hygiene practices; (2) providing personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks to health workers surveillance and burial teams; (3) constructing sanitation facilities in treatment centres; and (4) increasing access to clean water and sanitation in targeted slum areas.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened community sensitization; (2) strengthened personal and environmental hygiene in targeted areas with preventative measures and key messages; (3) increased access to clean water and sanitation; and (4) district health management teams supported. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or acute food insecurity.