Recap of HOPE worldwide Liberia's First Ebola Awareness Campaign ^Featured

Latest Ebola News 

The Ebola epidemic is almost getting out of control in West Africa, and Liberia is no exception. About 2,000 people have died already, and the World Health Organization states that up to twenty thousand people will die before the virus is eradicated. The Liberia government is making many efforts to fight against the deadly disease from rapidly spreading across the country. Earlier, the government imposed a National State of Emergency, thereby closing all schools and some public offices, and recently, a national curfew has been established, all in the name of restricting the movements of people not to spread the virus around the country.

Local and international NGOs have begun to buttress government’s efforts in fighting against the Ebola virus in the country, and HOPE worldwide Liberia has also started to do the same.

On Thursday, September 4, 2014, HOPE worldwide Liberia joined the efforts of the government by embarking on a three-day Ebola awareness and sensitization campaign. It was a great experience, especially to see people from diverse backgrounds, who are united in Christ, voluntarily give their time and talents to help eradicate this deadly virus. It was a campaign that displayed a true meaning of discipleship. It is not about sitting in our comfort zones and watching others suffer. It is our responsibility as disciples to love and care for the poor, the needy and the oppressed.

Pre-campaign

Before undertaking this initiative, HOPE worldwide Liberia recruited 55 volunteers from the Monrovia Church to undergo a one-day intensive training workshop on the Ebola virus. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The training was held at the church’s edifice in Monrovia and a national health worker served as keynote speaker.

The campaign ran from September 4-6, 2014. The 55 volunteers were divided into 11 groups with a maximum number of five persons in each group. These groups were charged with the responsibility of reaching out to specific blocks in the six targeted communities around the church's premises. These targeted communities are all located in the city of Paynesville, just outside of Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.

Day 1, September 4

The 11 groups spreaded in two large communities, the Lover Street Community and the Joe Bar Community. They used their training expertise to educate people on a house-to-house base, teaching them how to prevent themselves from the virus, and also how to prepare the chlorine of chloral solution use for washing hands and disinfecting the homes. Constant washing of hands is one of the ideal ways of preventing Ebola, but if the washing solution is not properly prepared, that preventive method will be useless. If the solution is very concentrated, it will cause future harm for the skin. So the chlorine or chloral has to be balanced to a specific quantity of water. The day ended at the Joe Bar Market with a special donation of one 75 liter barrel, two gallons of chloral and half carton of detergent soap. This will enable people coming in the market to properly wash their hands before entering the market. The president of the market receiving the items on behalf of the market. He thanked HOPE worldwide on behalf of the marketers and promised that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose.

Day 2, September 5

On the second day, awareness was carried out in two larger communities which are the Rock Hill Community and the GSA Road Community. After the usual house-to-house campaign, HOPE worldwide was able to also visit two market places, the Rock Hill Market and the Zubah Town Market. As with the first market, these markets also received a 75 liter barrel, two gallons of chloral and half carton of detergent soap each. The donation was received by the leadership of these markets in the present of the marketers.

Day 3, September 6

On Saturday, September 6, the awareness campaign was carried out in the Abraham Tolbert Road Community and the Sand Town Community. All of the volunteers gathered at the ELWA Market which is the second biggest market in the city of Paynesville next to the Red Light Market which is the largest. HOPE worldwide also presented the same quantity of materials donated to the previous markets. The administration of that market was very grateful, and expressed gratitude that the church did not only identify with them in reaching them with the gospel, but also reaching them with love in a time of crisis. Brothers from the church usually visit that market to preach the word of God to those who sell and go to buy there. The entire campaign was ended right after the donation with a photo shoot.

Final Report

According to the statistical tracking sheets carried by each of the teams for the three days, the awareness campaign was able to reach six large communities and four major market places in Paynesville. Records also show that a total number of 3,800 persons benefited from the campaign. They are very well-informed now on how dangerous the virus is and the proper preventive methods.

Challenges

One of the major challenges faced during the campaign was the lack of funds to purchase more sanitary materials for distributing to various homes. Many people expected HOPE worldwide to come to their aid with similar materials donated at the markets, but due to limited financial resources, these items were only being donated to the markets.

Our goals

The leadership of HOPE worldwide Liberia, headed by Mark Dorbor Suah, wishes to achive the following:

• That more outreach like this can be carried out in other communities, which will play an important role in educating many people on what the Ebola virus actually is, the threats it poses to human life, and how the virus can be prevented since it is currently incurable.
• That HOPE worldwide maintains the same volunteers who carried out this first campaign to conduct other subsequent campaigns.

Conclusion

Brethren, the HOPE worldwide first Ebola awareness and sensitization campaign was a huge success despite the associated challenges. Thank you for the financial and spiritual support which contributed enormously to the success of the campaign.

May God bless you as we look forward for more of your prayers. We believe that together we can all fight to eradicate the virus from Liberia and West Africa.

God bless you all.