Ebola

January – February 2015

In May 2014, the first case of Ebola in Sierra Leone was diagnosed. Both George Brook and Kroo Bay were subject to extensive quarantines and suffered at the hands of the rising cost of living. The incidence of criminal activity is believed to have increased in both communities due to the rise in unemployment, and the occurrence of child labour and prostitution is thought to have amplified due to the lack of regular school activity and household income shortages.

Our solution:

– Conduct an Ebola education programme in partnership with Fight For Peace;

– Work with ten community-based organisations (CBO) in order reach more households;

– Deliver community education training to two members from each CBO with an Ebola specialist from Connaught Hospital (Freetown);

– Carry out a house-to-house baseline assessment, Ebola education and post-education assessment programme over the course of three weeks;

– Provide emergency relief throughout the Ebola crisis, feeding and supporting quarantined families and Ebola orphans.

The outcomes:

– 7,000 people reached in 17 different communities in Freetown;

– 5% of people surveyed decided to change their behaviours in favour of Ebola prevention;

– 10% of those surveyed placed under quarantine at some point between May 2014 and January 2015;

– Emergency relief received by 400+ quarantined individuals in the form of food and water;

– Two separate community wide relief days conducted by WYCF in partnership with Street Child during nationwide quarantines, feeding up to 1,000 people.