Oxfam has launched an emergency appeal for the escalating Ebola crisis in West Africa. The money raised will go to Oxfam’s effort to help up to 4 million people who are at risk of contracting the deadly disease in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
A total of 8,033 cases and 3,879 deaths have been reported in the current Ebola outbreak according to the World Health Organisation. And the crisis is getting worse. Since the end of July the number of cases has shot up overwhelming an already struggling health service. Last Sunday (October 5th) in Sierra Leone there were 121 deaths to the disease, the worse figures recorded for a single day.
Oxfam is planning to triple its Ebola prevention programme in West Africa and needs at least £22m to help 4 million people at risk of catching the disease. It will be significantly stepping up its water and sanitation supply to Ebola treatment centres and community care centres, supply of hygiene materials and boosting its mass public information campaign.
Oxfam has already helped over half a million people by providing water supplies at treatment and isolation centres, hand washing facilities in community areas, hygiene kits to communities (soap, bleach etc), supplying of personal protective clothing for those front line community health workers and training of community health workers. The agency has also been running public information campaigns about how people can best protect themselves from catching the disease.
People wanting to donate to Oxfam’s Ebola Crisis Appeal can donate in the Hertford Oxfam Bookshop on Maidenhead Street or by calling 0300 200 1999 or online at www.oxfam.org.uk.
£3 can buy a 20-litre bucket for hand washing
£8 can buy a life-saving hygiene kit
£18.50 can buy a protective suit and gloves
