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FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Sept. 24, 2014) – As President Obama highlighted the threat of Ebola in West Africa – and the threat of rapidly crossing borders – this morning at the UN General Assembly in New York, Save the Children is working in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to help prevent the spread of the virus, and warning that the next few weeks are critical in preventing new cases of the deadly virus. "The Ebola crisis is now at a tipping point, as the numbers of cases are likely to increase dramatically in coming weeks. We are especially concerned for the 2.5 million children under the age of 5 living in areas affected by Ebola," said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children. "We must address this threat to these millions of children posed by Ebola, as well as other illnesses that are going untreated as a result of this outbreak."
Children are at great risk, both from the virus and from secondary effects, including social stigmatization, untreated illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria due to strained health infrastructure, and psychological stress from illness of death of relatives.
Save the Children is working with partners to help prevent and address the disease, including building a new treatment unit in Liberia. In order to prevent new cases, we are training vitally important frontline health workers, distributing protective kits and equipment, and reaching tens of thousands of people in communities with information on how to limit the risks to themselves and their families. We are also supporting children who have been orphaned by the virus.
Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.