Ebola – How You Can Help
The Ebola crisis is important.
Why? Well I have an obvious personal interest. My parents, my aunts, uncles, cousins and friends are in Sierra Leone and so are at risk. There is also the (fairly low) risk that this disease could spread out of West Africa. The biggest risk is that it continues to spread in West Africa, and that the economic and political consequences get out of control, making these already poor, relatively unstable countries poorer and more unstable.
There is a huge need for immediate help, to try and stop this epidemic getting bigger, and then there is more long-term help, to try and help rebuild the economy and to look after survivors, orphans and dependents. Please do whatever you can to help.
Here are a few organisations to help you get started.
1) The Kings College Sierra Leone Partnership has supported the establishment of an Ebola Command Centre in Freetown, and is now providing support to two further isolation centres through clinical training, supplies and technical advice. Please donate to them here.
2) Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are one of the best medical aid organisation in the world – it has been a key player in fighting the disease. Please donate to them here.
3) Disasters Emergency Commitee (DEC) is an umbrella group of 13 UK charities (including the British Red Cross, Save the Children and ActionAid) and that come together in times of disaster. Please donate to them here.
4) CDC Foundation Global disaster Response fund assists the Centres For Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) by providing critical assistance and supplies through donations to the Foundation’s Global Disaster Response Fund, which enables CDC staff to respond quickly to changing circumstances and needs. Please donate to them here.
To find out more about Ebola please do check out the World Health Organisation factsheet and CDC website.
Please share this article to help me raise awareness. Thank you.
Great post! Important and informative, I really hope you have no cause to worry for your family.
What a good idea to put up the links to organisations. I can’t imagine how worried you must be. You have been in my thoughts over the past weeks. Hopefully sooner rather than later this will be a disease of the past. I heard tonight that the figures are dropping in SL, let’s hope that continues. Have shared your post. Best wishes to you and your family.
Thanks Madeleine – thanks for sharing and god news about the reduction in ebola numbers.
Fingers crossed that it is under control soon. Those poor people 🙁 Thinking of you and your family xoxo
Thanks Danielle, I appreciate your thoughts.
Helpful information indeed!
Such a dreadful time for you being so far away from your family – it must be a worry. All the best.
Thanks Heidi.
I’m so glad you’re highlighting this. Thanks for the sharing these links, every little bit helps:)
I thought it might be helpful for people to know some of the places to donate to.
It’s such a horrid situation. My husband and I were talking about the effect it will have on the survivors! One day all this will be over and there will be a whole group of adults who missed out on a huge amount of school as children while this illness raged on. And that’s just ONE long term effect.
I know Rachel, at the moment there are whole villages were most of the adults are gone and lots of orphans around. There will be a huge legacy when all this is over.
Great article Bintu, and I’m really glad you’ve put it out. I’ve donated to Medicines Sans Frontier from the start of the crisis, the work they do is incredible.
Sadly I think it took some international cases to happen before the Western world offered any real financial help.
As always my good wishes are with your family & friends.
Janie x
Thanks Janie, and thanks for sharing.
Prayers that your family continues to be ok and not affected! I will definitely check out these sites, the ebola topic has been quite the rage here in NYC, too, so it’s important to spread the word!
Thanks Jess. I appreciate your help.
Extremely well put together Bintu, and very useful for people contemplating how they can help. Shall be sharing throughout all my social media platforms. I’ve been meaning to ask you how all your relatives are in Sierra Leone are? It must be extremely worrying for you x
I appreciate all your sharing Lou. Thanks masses.
You’ve given your reader good information about where they can visit to help prevent the spread of this shocking disease. With humanity pulling together, we should find a way to recover.
I really do hope so Francene. Fingers crossed.
Great post – good to know how people can do their bit to help. Love and good wishes to your family.
#UKBloggers
Much appreciated Fashion mommy.
Like Choclette I’ve been thinking of your family too. I know yoiu said a week or so ago that they are fine, I hope that’s still the case. We have to do more to help. Of course I’ve shared your post. GG
Thanks masses GG.
Great post very interesting and helpful on the organistations to help!
Thanks Atosha – every little share helps.
It’s dreadful that it’s been allowed to spread as much as it has – we were a bit late to wake up to the danger. I have been thinking about you and your family and wondering how they fared,. It must be a big worry for you. Anyway, have tweeted, google+d, SU’d and shared on Facebook.
Thanks Choclette, I really appreciate all your shares.