Fighting The Outbreak of Ebola in Liberia

Dear VAAFD supporters and donors,

We are happy that you are with us in the fight of this deadly disease that continues to kill thousands of people in West Africa, which is becoming a global issue. I am sure that together we can stop the spread of this epidemic. Please feel free to contact us if you have any query that we can clarify as we continue working, and how your resources are used. Thank you so much for your kindness, open-handedness and love. Since VAAFD Ebola Awareness Teams got involved in the fight of this deadly epidemic we have been conducting awareness and Ebola’s prevention education in five zones within the Paynesville belt in Monrovia.

Our team has undergone two major healthcare and Ebola’s awareness trainings conducted by the  Health Ministry and an international NGO (MORE THAN ME). Our team has reached over two hundred and seventy three homes within five zones covering three key communities in Paynesville: Soul Clinic, Pipeline, and the Police Academy area. About 75% of the families we have met strongly do not believe the existence and reality of this disease but with the effort of our trained volunteers, we have been able to change their perceptions. We have been able to make them understand the basics of Ebola’s prevention and awareness.

However, our team is working very hard to break their disbeliefs and make them understand the reality of the disease. Our team is moving from home to home and meeting with families. There has been much progress made by our team in providing necessary awareness and education to homes and families in the Paynesville area. The rest of the 25% have some basic information on the spread and prevention of Ebola but still have some doubt and uncertainty about the disease.

 The challenges are that most of these people we meet always expect our team to do more by distributing disinfectants such as buckets, gloves, chloride, chlorine, and oral rehydration and food items. Ambulance is also a major challenge to the fight of this epidemic. Whenever we identify a sick person, it can be difficult to getting the health team coming over since they have limited ambulances to cater to population. Other challenges of our team are the rainy season; it makes it difficult for them to go out since our volunteers do not have rain boots and coats. Educational materials and other supplies will help to make our work easier so as to continue our activities within these communities during the deadly Epidemic.

Your donation will help to increase our activities to help stop the spread of this disease. We cannot make progress without your support and contribution to this endeavor. Therefore, we want to encourage you to continue the good work you have started and also please encourage your friends and relatives to make their contribution. We are sure that together we can fight and defeat this epidemic that has the propensity kill us all if we do not move faster.