KEY POINTS
Study in Sierra Leone finds women took the brunt of EVD
Response partners in Liberia intensify support to border crossings Guinea, Mali and Senegal cross-border meeting in Labe, Guinea
Key Political and Economic Developments
- The Government of Sierra Leone in partnership with UN Women, OXFAM and Statistic Sierra Leone released the findings of a country-wide Multi-Sector Gender Dimensions impact assessment on Ebola Virus Disease on 24 February. The assessment revealed that more females were infected (56%) due to gender norms and behavior that perpetuate gender inequality. EVD outbreak poses an unprecedented challenge in the overall achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The assessment found that EVD has brought about a sharp decline in maternal and child health indicators because health facilities were overwhelmed, in addition to mistrust of health services and the fear of contracting EVD. The assessment also revealed that health seeking behavior of women in particular has been negatively impacted with expectant mothers going without pre-natal care, obstetric services and a number of new-born babies not receiving lifesaving vaccines – 45% of respondents were not seeking health services for fear of contracting EVD. This assessment sets the tone for gender issues in the EVD recovery programming in Sierra Leone. UNMEER gender advisor provided technical input to the assessment process.
Response Efforts and Health
In total, 23,781 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of EVD have been reported in the three most affected countries. There have been reported 9,637 deaths.
In Liberia, WHO and UNMEER visited Juarzon on 26 February, to follow up on the woman who escaped from the ETU in Monrovia on 20 February (see sitrep 23 February). The County Health Team (CHT) informed the team that the patient has not been located. The community has been informed to be vigilant.
Response partners are increasing community engagement and social mobilization interventions in the face of intimidation, stigmatization and death threats. On 25 February, community resistance to response efforts was reported in Boffa, Dubreka, Forecariah and Conakry.
In Guinea, the Government reinforced operational capacity in Faranah prefecture by donating eight motorcycles and WHO deployed a field coordinator. The Community Watch Committees (CVVs) in the prefecture were also paid their incentive. In Forecariah prefecture, the Institut Pasteur donated a mobile ambulance to the Transit Centre, UNMEER provided office supplies and IOM donated furniture to the Forecariah Command Center. The Ebola National Coordination Centre donated a motorcycle ambulance to Oureka border and UNICEF provided 2,800 wash kits to PRIDE.