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.

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