Info Saves Lives: Ebola Outbreak in West Africa

Thank you so much for your contributions to our project. With your generous donations, Internews has been supporting CAAEB,Community Action Against Ebola (CAAEB), an Internews partner, led by nurse Aaron Debah and Roosevelt Dolo. The organization is made up of professional nurses, church members and other community members who spread information through radio programs and face-to-face interactions with the public.

Callers to educational radio programs broadcast on Voice of Gompa, HOT FM and Radio Kergeamahn expressed concern about denial that still exists in the country.

“According to many participants on the radio show, if we don’t accept the true existence of Ebola as a virus that kills fast and presently in Ganta and other parts of Liberia, we as a country will never be successful in the fight against Ebola,” said Debah.

As well as radio, CAAEB outreach workers go house-to-house and distribute flyers to educate the community about preventing the spread of Ebola and to reduce the stigma that Ebola survivors face when they return home.

Rumors and misinformation – that Ebola does not exist, that the government is behind its spread, that medicine is available but not being given, and many more  –  are exacerbating the problem and CAAEB volunteers work to inform the community with the facts about Ebola.

Amid all the misconceptions, Debah said many people are becoming aware of the existence of the virus and are practicing proper safety procedures.

Liberia is still struggling with other issues related to the spread of Ebola, such as a lack of food, medical supplies and protective gear and a need for clothing for Ebola victims, whose belongings have to be burned. There is also a need for care of children orphaned by the disease.

Once again, we ask for your support. Please renew your donation to support Internews' Ebola Work on GlobalGiving

Help us to continue to ensure that communities at risk, and especially those living in remote rural areas, get the right information now: how to identify early symptoms, prevent transmission, what to do and where to go. We need your help now more than ever to make sure we can continue to support Aaron and projects like his all over West Africa.

Specifically in Liberia, CAAEB volunteers are in need of motorbikes, a scanner/copier/printer for materials, mobile phones, and money to pay for radio airtime. Donate today>>

Thank you once again for your support.

P.S.Our dear friend and colleague, Aaron runs a radio program integrating SMS and call-ins, which has transitioned from a focus on local mental health issues to Ebola since the crisis began. PBS NewsHour did a segment on this earlier this year.