HIGHLIGHTS
As of 17 December 2014, the cumulative number of laboratory confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases is 6,702, up 327 since last week. The number of confirmed deaths is 1,876, while 1,259 have been discharged from treatment.
The President launched an intensive campaign in the capital called the ´Western Area Surge’ for two weeks from 17 th Dec, which aims to reduce the transmission rates and restore faith in health care services and influence the public to self-identify when sick and come forward for treatment.
The President opened a new UNICEF-supported Community Care Center (CCC) in Newtown in Western Area on 16th December, the first of two CCCs in the worst-affected district. By 24 th December, a total of 42 CCCs will have been established in four districts with a 368 bed capacity to isolate and care for patients.
The UNICEF-led Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) network has identified 11,337 children as being directly affected by the Ebola crisis (5,756 girls and 5,581boys). This is an increase of over 1,100 affected children from the previous reporting period. This total includes 5,135 children who have lost one or both parents to EVD, an increase of over 630 since the previous report.
UNICEF Sierra Leone requires USD 178 million for its response to the Ebola crisis until end of June 2015. To date, USD 85 million has been received - 48 percent of the total.
