SITUATION IN NUMBERS
26 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN AREAS AFFECTED BY EBOLA (EVD)
4.5 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER 5 LIVING IN AFFECTED AREAS
5.8 MILLION CHILDREN AGED 10-19 LIVING IN AFFECTED AREAS
RESPONSE HIGHLIGHTS
• In Liberia, in addition to social mobilization, health and hygiene promotion activities, UNICEF is working with government and NGO partners to develop psychosocial services for families affected by Ebola, and to establish a system of identification and care of children orphaned by Ebola.
• In Guinea, Ebola prevention messages were sent to an estimated 10 million people through all cellular phone companies once a week for 2 consecutive weeks. Social mobilization activities through door-to-door, in remote rural areas of the country, in markets and bus stations continue along with free distribution of soap and chlorine. Over 3.2 million people have been sensitized in the affected areas in Guinea so far recently adding 600 opinion leaders; 170 monks, and border control personnel.
• In Nigeria, 20 teams have been trained and deployed to households within 500m, 1km, and 2km radiuses of EVD contacts living in high, medium and low density areas using GPS tracking and smart phones for real time data. Mass media and social media strategies have been operationalized. 65 health workers have been provided with training on interpersonal communication and EVD; 48,000 SMS were sent through U-Report Nigeria and 89,611 visits were made to the Ebola alert website on 21 August.
• In Sierra Leone a 10-minute documentary film (and 3 minute summary) has been produced for social mobilization against denial/myths surrounding Ebola; Ebola messages are broadcast on 40 radio stations across the country. The Rumour Bank is now linked to the National Emergency Call Center with a toll-free number. UNICEF and Health for All Coalition embarked on a week-long mobile street-to-street campaign in every district capital.
• In neighboring countries of concern, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire, prevention and preparedness measures are being undertaken with Ministries and the development of national contingency plans, broadcasting of prevention messages through national and community radios.