CAFOD and its partners have intensified their Ebola response work in Sierra Leone, joining the international effort to reach zero new cases of Ebola in the coming months.
Thanks to money generously donated by CAFOD supporters to our Ebola crisis appeal - which raised over one million pounds - and funding from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), our partners are scaling up distributions of food and household items to quarantined families, Outbreak Prevention kits – made up of protective clothing, bleach and cleaning materials - to places of worship, and continuing the vital training of volunteers in spreading Ebola prevention messages within their communities.
Catherine Mahony has been leading CAFOD's emergency response in Sierra Leone since October last year. She says there are signs that the number of cases is starting to reduce in Sierra Leone, but there is no room to be complacent:
"There is the smallest room for optimism as we are seeing a reduction in the number of new cases. However, the reality is that the Ebola virus is still in communities and getting to zero new cases will only be achieved if we continue to be vigorous in our response work across Ebola-affected communities.
"CAFOD supporters and the British public have been outstanding in their generosity, allowing us to continue a range of activities for the poorest and most vulnerable affected by this appalling disease.
"We will be working flat out until there are no longer any new cases."
CAFOD has trained and set up burial teams in Kambia in the north of the country. Six teams of ten local people, made up of men and women, have safely buried 285 people since 7 January.
Catherine Mahony continued: "Too many people are still caring for the sick and dying themselves, as well as carrying out unsafe burial practices, resulting in many deaths that could have been avoided. The issue of cultural practices continues to pose a big challenge. That is why it's vital that we continue to roll out Ebola prevention messages in communities."
Over 20,000 cases of Ebola have been reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the three most affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. 8,500 people have died.
Catherine Mahony concluded: "There is much we can learn from the resilience and strength of the Sierra Leonean people. When the country reaches zero new cases, this should not be the signal to forget about Sierra Leone and Ebola.
"Communities will need to rebuild their lives and their jobs. Particular concern will be for Ebola survivors who have been rejected by their communities. We will ensure that our partners continue their stigma-reduction work, and support Ebola survivors to earn a living.
"I hope that the international community will look to learn lessons for the future from this epidemic, and ensure that national public health systems receive the investment and training needed to be better prepared to tackle future outbreaks. "
