Alone

Chief Pa Kapri Fallah is an old man now, acording to him he spent all his time and resources in raising up his children as heirs to his throne and now all gone, he lost 15 members of his family, his two eldest sons in university died, his wife died and all the imediate people that can take care of him when he is old, I cant talk to you much! I cant talk much sense because my heart is bleeding in pain as I speak to you, I dont know what to do and how to even start my life...his phone number is +23288107296, our people need us, take some time to speak with them, together we can make a change.

Tears

"So much tears for me wholeday long since morning, loosing my apetite since I visited Patebana, I could not belive that there are peolpe sleeping without food, mariatu J koroma in Patebana Village lost both her parent and two brothers in the Ebola crisis, she is presently stranding with her two younger brothers her parent left behind, she was also an Ebola patient just discharged from hospital, since then she never has any asistance from anyone, they are presently on quarantine and needs urgent help for food and clothing, her phone number is +23288070557, even a one minute consolation call will make a great difference in her life. Together we can change their lives."

In My Corner

IN MY CORNER BY
Abu Bakarr Nat Taylor-kamara

Despite of the fact there are promising signs that the infection rate of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone has shown a downward trend in some districts especially the first affected areas like kailahun and kenema, I still have a very little idea when this misfortune will come to an end- sooner or later.  Most of all my district- Bombali and it neighborhoods are reporting a sharp upward trend of the virus for every slumber taken. This is more so as one of the many identified means of contamination is frequently in practice- social gathering.

Ironically, some of the identified measures to figure out the virus have been overburdened,  making it very difficult to understand exactly our chances of winning back this test we have been put into. The most important thing I think government should do now is to confidence by making sure that they provide trustworthy and consistent information about the disease to it people and those that are willing to help us and most importantly those that are put in charge in the fight to be thoroughly monitored.

In my corner,  the outbreak have uncovered a number of inadequacies especially with our health system that have been responsible for the much more social, economic and political sufferings. This have infused some tragic consequences in the fight and this was even why our President was moving too slow from behind in responding since the early quarters of the outbreak.  In summary, there is a lacking trust in the whole system which is yet to b overcome and this is naturally affecting the velocity of government's efforts to the fight. Building this trust back will take increased transparency and accountability,  love and above all the readiness for change and this I think will not be a short term project for Sierra Leone.

In my corner,  I have also realized that individual agencies or so called NGOs are taking chances of benefiting from the situation instead of facing the reality. By So doing they tell stories to have an incentive.  So government need to sort out some of these agencies or NGOs so that we could enjoy fact from anecdotes.

In my corner, I still question the realistic commitments delivered reliably and transparently.  Because I still hear the lonesome voices of those that are significantly touched in distance distressing the kindhearted as Marie Sesay, one of the Ebola survivors told me in a very disturbing tune " my life is seriously touched and there is no family left. I don't think I will survive this because the much attention is yet to reach my satisfaction despite of what I am hearing about us"

In my corner, I will always continue to wish myself and my country to enjoy the freedoms of which the prudence and providence of our ancestors had established.
God bless  mama salone and everyone of you that contributed

Help

"South Korea Announces $5.6 million To Aid The Fight Against Ebola In Sierra Leone. The government of South Korea announced another massive increase in its support to Sierra Leone in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.CCTV."

"Dutch Government Dishes Out 31million Euros To WHO And UNICEF To Combat Ebola Virus In Mano River States. The Government of the Netherlands(Holland) and the Dutch Philanthropists have braced themselves up to help kick Ebola out of the three Mano River States of Sierra Leone,Liberia and Guinea. EURO NEWS"

Greater Freetown...

Ebola in Sierra Leone:

"Due to the number of new Ebola cases in Western Area, Western Area is now considered  an Ebola High Transmission Area. This means that certain measures have been put in place. Below are the key points:

1.       CDC have reported that 70-80% of all new Ebola cases nationally are caused by people having contact with the bodies of those who have died from Ebola, and this % is increasing.

2.       In order to reduce new infections we have to reduce the number of people who have contact with the bodies of the deceased.

3.       Now that Western Area is considered a High Transmission Area:

    a.       All deaths have to be treated as suspected Ebola deaths (even if the family know the death was caused by old-age or another illness).

    b.      All bodies of the deceased must be removed from the community by the burial teams, ASAP, and always within 24 hours.

    c.       It is not possible to do a swab test on all bodies to learn whether the cause of death was Ebola or not before a body is removed from the home. It takes between 1-3 days to get the test results back from the labs, and 1-3 days is too long to leave the body in the house.
                                                     
          i.      If the death was caused by Ebola, the body is highly contagious and leaving it in the house will increase the risk of other members of the family getting Ebola.
                                                             
          ii.      Whether the death was caused by Ebola or another illness, it can be upsetting for families to be left with the body in the house without being able to touch it.

These are extraordinary times which call for extraordinary measures, and some difficult decisions have been made by the Freetown government leadership and the Mayor. The measures outlined above will be difficult for people, but we can all help to try and explain the reasons behind them and encourage communities to accept the above measures in order to keep themselves safe. The burial teams have been retrained in Safe, Dignified, Medical Burials. These burials do not allow anyone to wash or touch the body, but they ensure that the body is treated respectfully, and they allow for a priest or imam to read prayers and a small number (<10) of family members to observe the burial from a safe distance. The dead should be respected whilst the living are protected. 

Please help to share this information, and also to feedback any relevant information on how the new system is working (both in terms of community acceptance, and how burials are being conducted)."

Missing?

"Dis guy fell down at Rawdon St yesterday afternoon vomiting and was there till this evening please help share the news as his family may be looking for him"

Misinformation

This is a big contributor to the issues of containing Ebola... Misinformtion...

"Ebola reached Kenya unfortunately!!
Infected person-Rakesh Bhandhari worked in an IT Company, he expired today.
Please take precautions against this Virus and spread the awareness!!
Friends plz eat Honey as much as possible to safeguard yourself from this virus ebola becz this virus directly effects Human Blood Cells. Honey is for the Blood Cells so this is a precaution to save u from the ebola virus...
*SENT AS RECEIVED*
Ebola virus Spread in mumbai toooo
Use Cold water to take your bath in the morning,  when you want to drink water use hot water..
It is said to be a traditional vaccine for Ebola.
Please don't keep this information to yourself  send to all your contacts..."

How do you combat Ebola?

Info being passed along in Sierra Leone on Ebola:
"Pass this information on to all of our people. This idea was formulated by Dr. Amos M.D. Sirleaf professor at Cuttington University. He states that due to the fact that all of the subsidiaries of the ebola virus comprise of flu like symptoms, it would make sense to address the symptoms with medicines that attack the flu in order to also attack the disease state of ebola itself.

Electrolytes
Motrin
Multi vitamin (vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, Vitamin K, folic acid and calcium)
Tylenol
Claritin D
Cold or flu medicines can help get rid of the Ebola symptoms because the symptoms start off like flu symptoms
Antibiotics (tetracycline, ampicillin, teramycin, erythromycin, Amoxcicillin)
Keep washing hands frequently
Disinfect everything
Drink plenty of fluids (plenty of water, planty of ORS, plenty of cranberry juice from super market)
Cough medicine
Benedryl
Everyone should practice good hygiene,and using hand sanitizers regularly, bathing or taking a shower 2 times a day.

Washing hands with soap
Drinking hot pepper soups to kill germs
Drinking hot tea with lemon, ginger and honey to help people's immune system be strong and also kill germs.
Drinking lots of bottled water
Avoid shaking hands or hugging strangers because you never know where there hands and bodies have been.
Wearing gloves and face masks to block germs from coming into the body if possible, especially when handling sick relatives.

Keeping a clean home by wiping down your entire home with cleaning supplies especially if you have alot of visitors coming to visit you on a regular basis.
Drinking orange juice, cranberry juice and grapefruit juices, those are high in vitamin C.

Stay safe and pass this n to your friends if you wish them well"

The end of sociality...

An interesting question... a year ago, this would mean nothing. But now? In Sierra Leone, what is wrong with this picture?

To me it seems as if people cant still avoid public garthering, u can see the crowd.

No more Ebola in Nigeria

Nigeria has been declared officially free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

Africa's most populous country won praise for its swift response after an infected Liberian diplomat brought the disease there in July.

The WHO officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday.

Taking its toll

Powerful Commentary from Sierra Leone:

"Friends, these days you need much more than courage to carry on here. You wake up in the morning , turn your  tv on, the news is about ebola deaths, images of body bags, mass burial and scary projections nothing to smile about. You turn the radio on , the news is about health workers on strike, burial  team, misuse of ebola funds, corruption and some politicians that are mocking their people even during the outbreak. Food prices coutinue to go up , more businesses are folding up and our way of life totally affected. You don't  know who to trust. Your son or your wife ? In the public transport or your grilfriend might even be your free ticket to the disease. You saw a friend loose his whole family to the disease, your next door neighbors are quarantine. And you ask yourself, who is next? Schools are closed; on leisure activities and the figures for new cases continue to go up . You count yourself very lucky to return home safe everyday without any hitch even as we put up brave face but the truth is that we are living in constant fear.  This is Sierra Leone for u today! Am I lying?��

Leh God sorry 4 we ya!"

The many faces of Ebola

Reports of a "Riot in Freetown. Okada riders are now attacking police officers or vehicle with police officers..."

Cuba to the rescue

Ebola updates:

"165 Cuban Medical Brigade comprising 63 doctors and 102 nurses was this morning formally received by the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr Abu Bakar Fofana in a ceremony held at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Also at the Ceremony were the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation 1, Mr Foday Sawi, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Brima Kargbo; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Mrs Ebun Strasser-King and the Publicity and Outreach Coordinator in the Office of the Government Spokesman, Mr Abdulai Bayraytay from the Government of Sierra Leone and the Ambassadors of China, Cuba and Ghana from the Diplomatic Community. The Ambassador and leaders of the medical brigade paid a courtesy call on the President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House after the ceremony. The Cuban medical personnel will be deployed at the Western Area and Port Loko district, according to the Chief Medical Officer."

"Gbasay Koroma a football player died. This hapen fews days later after his mother kumba koroma died."

Ambulances!

Ebola:
"Sierra Leone gets 30 brand new deluxe  ambulances, 14 already arrived at the Freetown International airport, Lungi on Tuesday morning 7th October 2014 @ 3:43am with the remaining to land at the same time on Thursday; plus 20 utility/hearse vehicle 18 already supplied on purchase by the Transport and Aviation Ministry which contracted a local company called Premier Logistics and Supplies ltd with international standard and capability.

All vehicles were air freighted in to the country to expedite delivery in the fight against the country's ebola epidemic."

Nurse after Nurse

"SIERRA LEONE: Ebola claims another Medic at Connaught Hospital Nurse Prince Vandy Koroma is the latest medical personnel that has succumbed to the Ebola epidemic disease at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown.Koroma who worked at the Out patients Department of the hospital contracted the disease a few days ago and was admitted at the Ebola Ward where he passed away this morning . He has since been buried.Koroma's colleagues say he was a very committed and dedicated to helping those who needed his services.Some of Koroma's colleague at the hospital have asked me to request all Sierra Leoneans and well wishers across the world to remember them in prayers.They are heavily traumatised and are also victims of discrimination.Meanwhile, reporters on the ground are also warning the people of Freetown to avoid Gbendembu, situated near Goderich where 10 people put on quarantine in one house have all died of the disease.N0.14 Richard Street near Sandas St in Freetown is another flash point that should be avoided.   Rest in peace nurse Koroma."

Back to the Ebola ABCs

Ebola:
Strong statements coming from a very religious country...
"WHICHEVER WAY YOU SLICE IT, PRAYER CANNOT CURE EBOLA " . STOP LAYING HANDS ON PEOPLE TO CURE EBOLA, CLERGY PLEADS     Monrovia - Rev. Father Ambrose Koromah of the St. Kizito Catholic Church parish has warned the religious leaders in Liberia against holding deliverance services at their various prayer centers with the intentions of curing people affected with Ebola. Father Kromah said continued attempts to heal people affected by Ebola by prayer services puts God to test and tantamount to destroying the much-needed united effort required in the fight against the Ebola Virus."

Treatment Centers

Ebola in Sierra Leone:
"49 survivers at the treatment centre in hasting took photo with President Koroma!!!

President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has paid glowing tribute to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for the great work they have done, in spite of the huge deaths suffered by its staff to help contain the Ebola outbreak. He also commended the tireless efforts of the Sierra Leone Police and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to get the treatment center, which is the largest countrywide,  up and running. 

The President described the activities of the treatment center as a turning point in the fight against the Ebola virus disease. 

President Koroma thanked God Almighty for sparing the lives of the 49 survivors. He urged them to take the news to thier communities and tell the story that if the symptoms are detected early enough, the chances of survival are high.

He also called on Sierra Leoneans to desist from stigmatizing patients discharged from Ebola as this will pay little or no dividend for the fight against EVD.

The President further appealed for more treatment centers and up to 1,000 beds to intensify this fight. "We know it is our role as a government to do these things but we want those who want to help us to hurry as time is not on our side," he said, and added that the Ebola fight is a fight for government and its development partners.

President Koroma encouraged all to continue the collaboration which had resulted into this ceremony being witnessed today.

Meanwhile, a dynamic group of young Sierra Leoneans from all works of life donated assorted provisions,  food stuff, sanitary pads and condoms worth over Le16 million to the 49 survivors, including the children."

The ABC's of Ebola

Ebola: The rules for life in Sierra Leone.....

"Please don't forget the followings ABC, APC. AQH, AWDB, AEBM, TSHC, FHW,     ABC- Avoid  Body Contact.                  
APC- Avoid People's Compound.       
AQH- Avoid Quarantine Homes         
AWDB- Avoid Washing Dead Bodies   
AEBM- Avoid Eating Bush Meat        
TSHC- Take the Sick to Health Centres   
SSFR- Stop Spreading False Rumour 
FHW-  Freequent Hand Washing. 

If u can supply at least 2 of similar abbreviations like these above, God will surely bless u. May i here u say amen!! Brothers and sisters today is Sunday, we pray that EBOLA does not live to see more Sundays. Is someone there to answer amen? Ebola must go! I command u to leave now!! This prayer will only answer if we shout Amen/Ameen."

African Union coming to save the day...

Tomorrow, Sunday 5 October, the African Union lead Ebola virus task force arrives in Sierra Leone to provide desperately needed help in the fight against the growing epidemic. Sierra Leone is one of the countries hit worst by the outbreak already having lead its government to undertake drastic measures - such as a complete lock down in September that lastedfor several days. http://bit.ly/1oGXCYZ

Courage

Ebola in Sierra Leone: "The courageous girl, a suspected Ebola victim entering the Ambulance to the holding center. Heading for the holding center." 

How many orphans will there be?

Ebola in Sierra Leone:
"Request from an Ophan child: Nurse I want to see my grand-mother said the eldest child, when would you take us to see my grand-mother? I want to see my grandmother she is staying at mayagba village. The younger child replied, no we should not go there because she is the only one left now, you want grandma to die? No we should stay here first till the Ebola ends they both agreed together sadly and accepted to stay in the holding center."

Ebola Orphans

Ebola in Sierra Leone: 
"Ophan children in the Makeni holding center, three of them are of the same father and with two different mothers, who both died as a result of ebola."

Ebola Gets Closer to Home

Ebola in Sierra Leone: 
"Looking town area makeni got the first suspected case of ebola, the child was abscunded from baio street in central makeni after two persons are dead in that house, the responce team was very fast to identify this and quickly taken to the referal center, the girl age 8yrs though, seems to have the gratest courage to enter the ambulance, she looks seek and week, please remember her in your daily prayers...."  

Another Nurse Dies

Ebola in Sierra Leone:
"Breaking News Tuesday 30 Sept. 2014 Ebola Kills Staff Nurse at Jui Her name is Lucy Sowa. She was a staff nurse working at the Ebola Isolation Unit at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown where she contracted the disease while trying to save other lives. Staff Sowa tested positive a couple of days ago and was rushed to the Ebola Holding Centre in Jui where she died last night. Staff Sowa used to work at the Emergency Hospital in Hamilton from where she responded to the call to serve her country in the fight against the Ebola epidemic disease at the Connaught Hospital. Staff Sowa had no time to talk to her family members before undertaking the trip to Jui. Her colleagues said she was already seriously ill and had no time to even take along some of her personal effects. Staff Sowa, I am told by her colleagues, was a highly dedicated nurse who ensured that her patients got the correct nursing care they needed. She has since been laid to rest. May her soul rest in perfect peace. May Allah admit her in heaven unconditionally." 

Makeni Updates

Ebola: 
"THE PROCLIVITIES OF EBOLA CONTINUES TO PLAGUE MAKENI. 
By Nat Taylor-kamara
As Bombali district continues to register an upward trend reporting on the number of Ebola victims, more and more unwanted occurrences continues to vulnerably violate, torture and live Residents astray to roam their world. In response to the unfortunate incident that saw an influx of people on the streets of Makeni few days ago- jubilating senselessly the end of the Ebola epidemic, the Resident Minister North of the Republic of Sierra Leone have yesterday in a press release banned all activities of commercial motorbike riding in the township and it immediate environs with immediate effect until further notice. This according to sources, the decision was as a result of the rumor that kept Makeni in maddness for hours-"Ebola don don" was believed to have been accelerated by the group in question as investigations continues. 
However, since the end of the civil war in Sierra Leone, commercial motorbike riding has been one of the vivid success stories of Youths reintegration and as well the commonly used means of transportation across the country of which Makeni is pivotal. A ban on this will obviously affect the daily activity facilitation by this sector as daily movements and other related issues will b haunted. The people are in a predicament: trapped in serfdom and exploited by an unknowing fate. Escape is hopelessly imagined. There seems to be no way out for our people but retribution. Children are in a state of deprivation, still dwelling beyond the shadows of reality, behind close doors, knowing that their futures has been tampered with. For them life can never be the same any more. The victims, however, are hypothetically to survive. We will live on to speak for the ones who are touched by this significant story. We shall transcend their misfortunes, the most of all their lonesome voices that silently emanate from the anguished souls.
God save mama because you are the only hope left, our assentors have failed us with impunity filled with impulses with no stopping points to seek redress."

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/02/world/africa/ebola-spreading-in-west-africa.html?emc=edit_th_20141002&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=5785688&_r=1&referrer

Orphaned...

Ebola: "This boy is an ophan whose parents both died shortly because of Ebola, his survival lies in the hands of his care giver." Hands that must be perpetually covered...... 

A little humor?

Stay Strong

False Jubilation...

Ebola update... rough day in makeni sierra leone. Erant word of an end to ebola came out and people took to the streets dancing. Breaking the quarantine and no touching each other rules.. could be disasterous. But there is so much pent up need for something exciting, something to dance about, to hug someone about. Imagone being confined to you home indefinitely, to your room, not able to even touch anyone, hug your children or spouse, not to be able to comfort them if they get sick, or even put yoir hand on their shoulder. All human contact is basically forbidden...... imagine life like that. And then imagine starving on top of it. 

Here is a report on what happened today:
"This is what they said happen. The situation guys is under control. Some people were released today from quarantine in Makeni and because they came out clean of Ebola after the 21 days stipulated time, they started dancing and jubilating that Ebola is gone. Others joined in the celebration, including Okada riders who have a unique way of jubilating.

Interestingly, something similar to this happened on Saturday around the Grey Bush area in Freetown. Something is going on and we need to carefully monitor the situation.

Tune in to SLBC TV now as they are discussing the issue with their correspondent in the northern City of Makeni"

Their is such misunderstanding of the disease, the biology of such things in general... 

Stolen Rice?!

Ebola in Sierra Leone:
The food situation is becoming dire. With the economy stopped and most of the country under restricted movement and/or quarantine, food and the means to buy it is greatly reduced. The below is a press release that appears to show that the ACC (anti-coruption commision) and the police taking food destined for quarantined areas.... sad. They need food.

Date: 28th September 2014
PRESS RELEASE
ACC INTERCEPTS 4250kgs OF RICE SUPPLY MEANT FOR EBOLA QUARANTINED HOMES
At about 20-21:00hrs on Saturday 27th September 2014, the ACC together with other stakeholders including the Sierra Leone Police and the Health For All Coalition (HFAC), intercepted two vehicles; a Salini Salcost vehicle with registration number ACW 443 driven by one John Sesay and a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number 73CD24 driven by one Edith J. Kargbo of WFP.
At the time of interception around Watson Street, Masuba, in the Makeni Township, the suspects were actively involved at odd hours contrary to WFP operational procedures transferring 50kg bags of rice from the truck to the WFP Toyota Land Cruiser. A total of 69bags of rice were found in the Salcost vehicle, while 16 bags, which is about 800kgs of rice, were loaded in the WFP vehicle, purportedly for distribution to quarantined homes. The exercise was taking place in the absence of other members of the EOC.
The Makeni Police Division, headed by LUC G.M Turay, the ACC and ONS are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the drivers of the two vehicles, the DMO, the District Nutritionist and the WFP Programme Assistant in the region, Mahmood Kamara, are helping the Police with the investigations.

Sign: ……………………………….. Sign:…………………………………..
Patrick Sandi, Deputy Director, ASP Ibrahim Samura
Public Education and Outreach Department Head of Media and Public Relations
Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone Police

Os to Os

Ebola in Sierra Leone:
"Just now: 11 homes to have been under quarantining are still not quarantined in lunsar. The blood samples results from the 21st to date indicates 11 homes in lunsar had confirmed ebola patients some of whom are undergoing treatment whiles other are dead. When I spoke with the CHO in lunsar this morning he said they are only waiting on the availability of food before they can start the quarantining of these homes. He acknowledged the fact that they posed a very serious threat now in the community to spreading the virus since they are unrestrictively moving all and about. 
It could also be recalled the stake holders in this community are still to account for 300 bags of rice giving them for the disabled and quarantined homes before the ose to ose sensitization program."

Help?!

Ebola:

"The situation in Sierra Leone is very worse; we are still calling on your help. Many people here now just don't die because of Ebola Disease but hunger as well. From all indications and preventive measures, one of the grounded rules is to Avoid Body Contact which involves less or no interaction with people, many people are dead and hundreds hospitalised with very crucial conditions. Few days back from 19th to 21st September, 2014. Government enacted a three days lock down nationwide as a strategy to reduce the spread of the disease and contain the virus. Speaking with coach Eto a local football coach here in Makeni, he told me for the rest of the three days he and his five children and wife survived with two cups of rice each day when they use to eat five cups each day, ''my family is unhealthy, my wife is sick, and our hunger might result to Ebola because when one is sick, the symptoms of Ebola shows, I am a Football coach, it is my occupation, it is my where I do survive, but now all Soccer activities have been suspended. Where could I earn money for me and my family? I don't Know, I am calling on the help of generous people so I can survive.

This story is very similar to most people (street children, polio persons, leprosy patient and many more others).

Aibia-Salone is kindly requesting assisting from generous people like you to provide food and water for these vulnerable persons.

We have an account with details as follows;

Bank Name: Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Ltd
Name of Account: Aibia-Salone
Account Number: 3502410110"

FUNDS TRANSFER INSTRUCTION 
TRANSFER OF USD/GBP/EUR THROUGH GUARANTY TRUST BANK (UK) LIMITED CORRESPONDENT BANK 

CORRESPONDENT BANK’ 
GUARANTY TRUST BANK (UK) LIMITED 
LONDON W1W8TF 
UNITED KINGDOM 
SWIFT CODE GT3IGB2L 

BENEFICIARY BANK 
GUARANTY TRUST BANK (SL) LTD 
SWIFT COOE GTBISLFR 

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 
901/10017/002/5033/00 USD 
901/10017/003/5033/00 GBP 
901/10017/0046/5033/00 EUR

Sierra Leone: "25 Sept 3 Dead 75 new cases. Last 5 days (Sun 21 to Thur 25) 251 new cases. World Bank doubles Ebola Aid to $ 400m (new $ 170m). New China Mobile Bio-Safety Level III Lab arrives to start work in 3 days (Awoko)"

Quarantine...

Ebola update from Sierra Leone: 
"Sierra Leone has ordered the quarantine "with immediate effect" of three districts and 12 tribal chiefdoms - affecting more than one million people - in the largest lockdown in West Africa's deadly Ebola outbreak. President Ernest Bai Koroma, in a national televised address, announced that the northern districts of Port Loko and Bombali were to be closed off along with the southern district of Moyamba - effectively sealing off around 1.2 million people. With the eastern districts of Kenema and Kailahun already under quarantine, more than a third of the population, in five of the nation's 14 districts, now finds itself unable to move freely.  "The isolation of districts and chiefdoms will definitely pose great difficulty but the lives of everyone and the survival of our country takes precedence over these difficulties," Mr Koroma said. "These are trying moments for everyone in the country." The deadliest Ebola epidemic on record has infected almost 6,000 people in West Africa and killed nearly half of them, according to the World Health Organisation's latest figures. The virus can fell its victims within days, causing rampant fever, severe muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and – in many cases – unstoppable internal and external bleeding."

The Real Cost of Ebola

Wow.. a truly moving and astute take on the real toll of Ebola. "imagine: You are a parent whose child has suddenly come ill with a fever. Do you cast your child away and refuse to touch him? Do you cover your face and your arms? Stay back! Unclean! Or do you comfort your child when he asks for you, arms outstretched, to make the pain go away?"

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/09/why_ebola_is_terrifying_and_dangerous_it_preys_on_family_caregiving_and.html

A final walk...

What happens to this women? She's suspected to have Ebola... probably dead within a few days. If she had decent food, fluids, and medical attention she might make, maybe. But without that she's simply paraded through the city by some protected head to toe for people to take pictures of.... how long we will allow this to go on?

Donate?

I just got another message from my partner in sierra leone. They need help desperatly. "the situation in Sierra Leone is becoming worse even though government is trying there best to contain the Ebola Virus yet a lot of problems still stands, many are hungry with no food and water and peoples movement restricted, no market activities and food government cant provide we're seeking donations to help people with food and water, people especially the physically challenge (polio persons, blind, leprosy patient) and street children please help us provide food for people." We can help them. If anyone can help with even 5, 10, 20 dollars we can get some food for people. You can donate a couple dollars at www.walkinglion.org and click on the donate button on the right hand side. Im going to send whatever we can get straight to them hopefully tomorrow, but its easier/better to send one large sum as it costs for each transfer... please help. And please "like" this and write comments so more people will see it... 

Check out today's ny times article as well:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/world/africa/ebola-outbreak.html?referrer=

Ebola in Makeni

As most of you know, I was in Sierra Leone a couple years ago and helped set up a community based organization. We continue to try to bring change to the region we work in, but everything has been put on hold right now due to the ebola outbreak. I wanted to share a first hand account of how dire the situation is there from my partner there:

"The situation in Sierra Leone is getting worse every day. Worse is that the outbreak in most Cities in Sierra Leone is very much high that it has taken government concentration and those rural communities are getting extremely vulnerable. on Saturday the Magbenteh Community Hospital, I believe we visited there when you came to Sierra Leone (the hospital built with the Hydroform bricks) was quarantined after a suspected case of Ebola, 6 nurses and 21 patient where suspected and all 6 nurses positive, 11 patient positive after the test result was out. on Monday yesterday three nurses already dead and two patient dead.

I am calling on your urgent intervention to complement government effort in the fight against Ebola. The virus is almost all in the District in Sierra Leone now except Koinadugu District. The other truth is that the disease have spread so wide that government cannot handle it now and some reports on Ebola are not made known to government because people do not want their relatives to be buried like poppers in plastics.

Two Hospital facilities in Makeni have already been closed because of the intense outbreak there. All our lives are at risk, traveling have been restricted, high inflation of food commodities, and most homes go with only one meal a day, imagine a country whose majority population goes with less than $1UD a day. everything is horrible here."

Heartbreaking......