Ebola Crisis in West Africa - Awareness Prevention and Water - 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 supporting schools to effectively reduce and control the spread of the Ebola virus in Liberia. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating and/or constructing new water supply systems in schools to ensure adequate water supply; (2) rehabilitating and/or constructing hand washing stations and latrines to conform to Ebola protocol requirements; and (3) training school staff on maintenance and operation of water supply system hand washing stations and latrines.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased infection prevention and control measures in place in schools and; (2) increased access to water and sanitation for girls and boys in schools and (3) improved awareness around the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and prevention infection behaviours to effectively reduce and control the spread of EVD. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or acute food insecurity.