The World Health Organization said the Ebola outbreak in West Africa could exceed eventually 20,000 cases, more than six times as many as doctors know about currently. The agency on Thursday published new figures reporting that 1,552 people have died from the killer virus in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.
The Missoula YMCA is spearheading a fundraising effort to help the Sierra Leone YMCA purchase much needed disinfectant supplies, chlorine, bleach and buckets. Funds will also go towards training community volunteers and YMCA staff in the most affected communities.
The Sierra Leone YMCA has set up a task force and aggressive plan, working with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, to distribute sanitation supplies and send medical volunteers to the communities most prone to outbreaks. Providing essential supplies like chlorine and soap, with a focus on community awareness about the disease and its prevention, is crucial to protecting people from contracting Ebola.
There is no government funding in Sierra Leone, and agencies like the YMCA are encouraged to raise funds from their international partners and donors.
- $400 supports a health practitioner for 10 days
- $100 trains 3 medical volunteers in prevention education
- $50 provides 4 kg of chlorine for sanitation
- $33 provides one hand washing station for a neighborhood
Learn more about the Missoula YMCA’s partnership with the Sierra Leone YMCA. And for more information, about how you can contribute, contact Jon Lange, CEO of Missoula YMCA, at 406-532-6244.
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