Nigeria has been declared officially free of Ebola after six weeks with no new cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
Africa's most populous country won praise for its swift response after an infected Liberian diplomat brought the disease there in July.
The WHO officially declared Senegal Ebola-free on Friday.
Overview...
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
No more Ebola in Nigeria
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
The Precarity of Living with Ebola
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Yapo and Tyson |
It took us three years to scratch together enough money just to start building a small office/community center in Makeni. We finally sent the money - $3800 - in two allotments last spring, and started building the foundation for our vision for alternative, community centered not-for-profit "development" in Sierra Leone. We got this high:
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aibia's office/community center... |
Yet throughout this, Yapo is sending picture after picture, story after story, of what life is like on the ground dealing with Ebola. Orphans, ambulances, quarantined people, even the dead. Whatever it takes to have the story told. But not just to get the story out, but because he is trying to affect local change. To stop Ebola there in Makeni. He has been on the front lines trying to make this better, better for all of us. These are some of his pictures:
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Suspected large scale contamination of a village... |
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A recent orphan... |
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A little girl being taken to isolation... |
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A women headed for quarantine... |
"Tim sorry, i might not be able to followup with the documentary thing for now, because i have some fever, though not too severe for now, they might put me under isolation for observation."Like somehow the documentary is more important than his fever. Of course to him it is, because the documentary is a way to get people throughout the rest of the world to know and care about what is happening in West Africa. The fact that he might have Ebola and a better than not chance of dying doesn't seem as important. Amazing, the will and heart of some people...
----Break----
Wooo!!! Update!!! paused to check phone and he just got the test back, Typhoid fever!! No Ebola!! He will have to be admitted to the hospital for three days, but should be ok after some antibiotics. Never would I have thought I'd be glad that a friend of mine has a disease that kills 200,000 people per year globally, but with antibiotics and a few days he should be fine. With Ebola, there is no cure, and in this outbreak 60-70% of people with it are dying (compared to .09% fatality rates with Typhoid).
This has been a very scary morning. A morning that happened to me here in the US just today, but that is happening to the everyone in West Africa everyday right now, every day. As people die though, we do so little. Our governments send small contingents of 300 or 600 people, old medical supplies, and pay it lip service. Only when a man dies in Dallas and his nurses or a nurse in Spain catch the disease do we really stand up an start to take notice. People claiming Ebola is fear-mongering, the next disease said to be - but that won't be - a threat. Yes, maybe not to you today, but an entire region of the world is being devastated by it. And if we don't stop it there, it will make its way here.....
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Recent Orphans... |
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Yapo when I was there... |
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Yapo and I trying to make some bricks! |
Taking its toll
Powerful Commentary from Sierra Leone:
"Friends, these days you need much more than courage to carry on here. You wake up in the morning , turn your tv on, the news is about ebola deaths, images of body bags, mass burial and scary projections nothing to smile about. You turn the radio on , the news is about health workers on strike, burial team, misuse of ebola funds, corruption and some politicians that are mocking their people even during the outbreak. Food prices coutinue to go up , more businesses are folding up and our way of life totally affected. You don't know who to trust. Your son or your wife ? In the public transport or your grilfriend might even be your free ticket to the disease. You saw a friend loose his whole family to the disease, your next door neighbors are quarantine. And you ask yourself, who is next? Schools are closed; on leisure activities and the figures for new cases continue to go up . You count yourself very lucky to return home safe everyday without any hitch even as we put up brave face but the truth is that we are living in constant fear. This is Sierra Leone for u today! Am I lying?
Leh God sorry 4 we ya!"
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Militarized Expansion
Ebola:
"BREAKING NEWS: Ebola confirmed among S/L army battalion (LEOBATT 2) on standby for deployment to Somalia. D entire battalion to b quarantine today.credit Umaru fofana"
The last safe place from Ebola?
Ebola in Sierra Leone:
"A village in koinadugu is said to have recorded 20 unexplained deaths. Fakoya village in Nenie Chiefdom has been quarantined and blood samples collected for ebola tests to ascertain whether the reported deaths are ebola related. If the results prove positive it will be the first time the virus has gotten its way to Koinadugu district which remains the only district without the virus."
Thursday, October 9, 2014
The many faces of Ebola
Reports of a "Riot in Freetown. Okada riders are now attacking police officers or vehicle with police officers..."
Cuba's coming to help
Ebola updates:
"165 Cuban Medical Brigade comprising 63 doctors and 102 nurses was this morning formally received by the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr Abu Bakar Fofana in a ceremony held at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Also at the Ceremony were the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation 1, Mr Foday Sawi, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Brima Kargbo; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Mrs Ebun Strasser-King and the Publicity and Outreach Coordinator in the Office of the Government Spokesman, Mr Abdulai Bayraytay from the Government of Sierra Leone and the Ambassadors of China, Cuba and Ghana from the Diplomatic Community. The Ambassador and leaders of the medical brigade paid a courtesy call on the President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House after the ceremony. The Cuban medical personnel will be deployed at the Western Area and Port Loko district, according to the Chief Medical Officer."
"Gbasay Koroma a football player died. This hapen fews days later after his mother kumba koroma died."
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Ambulances!
Ebola:
"Sierra Leone gets 30 brand new deluxe ambulances, 14 already arrived at the Freetown International airport, Lungi on Tuesday morning 7th October 2014 @ 3:43am with the remaining to land at the same time on Thursday; plus 20 utility/hearse vehicle 18 already supplied on purchase by the Transport and Aviation Ministry which contracted a local company called Premier Logistics and Supplies ltd with international standard and capability.
All vehicles were air freighted in to the country to expedite delivery in the fight against the country's ebola epidemic."
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Nurse after Nurse
"SIERRA LEONE: Ebola claims another Medic at Connaught Hospital Nurse Prince Vandy Koroma is the latest medical personnel that has succumbed to the Ebola epidemic disease at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown.Koroma who worked at the Out patients Department of the hospital contracted the disease a few days ago and was admitted at the Ebola Ward where he passed away this morning . He has since been buried.Koroma's colleagues say he was a very committed and dedicated to helping those who needed his services.Some of Koroma's colleague at the hospital have asked me to request all Sierra Leoneans and well wishers across the world to remember them in prayers.They are heavily traumatised and are also victims of discrimination.Meanwhile, reporters on the ground are also warning the people of Freetown to avoid Gbendembu, situated near Goderich where 10 people put on quarantine in one house have all died of the disease.N0.14 Richard Street near Sandas St in Freetown is another flash point that should be avoided. Rest in peace nurse Koroma."
Back to the Ebola ABCs
Ebola:
Strong statements coming from a very religious country...
"WHICHEVER WAY YOU SLICE IT, PRAYER CANNOT CURE EBOLA " . STOP LAYING HANDS ON PEOPLE TO CURE EBOLA, CLERGY PLEADS Monrovia - Rev. Father Ambrose Koromah of the St. Kizito Catholic Church parish has warned the religious leaders in Liberia against holding deliverance services at their various prayer centers with the intentions of curing people affected with Ebola. Father Kromah said continued attempts to heal people affected by Ebola by prayer services puts God to test and tantamount to destroying the much-needed united effort required in the fight against the Ebola Virus."
Treatment Centers
Ebola in Sierra Leone:
"49 survivers at the treatment centre in hasting took photo with President Koroma!!!
President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has paid glowing tribute to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for the great work they have done, in spite of the huge deaths suffered by its staff to help contain the Ebola outbreak. He also commended the tireless efforts of the Sierra Leone Police and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to get the treatment center, which is the largest countrywide, up and running.
The President described the activities of the treatment center as a turning point in the fight against the Ebola virus disease.
President Koroma thanked God Almighty for sparing the lives of the 49 survivors. He urged them to take the news to thier communities and tell the story that if the symptoms are detected early enough, the chances of survival are high.
He also called on Sierra Leoneans to desist from stigmatizing patients discharged from Ebola as this will pay little or no dividend for the fight against EVD.
The President further appealed for more treatment centers and up to 1,000 beds to intensify this fight. "We know it is our role as a government to do these things but we want those who want to help us to hurry as time is not on our side," he said, and added that the Ebola fight is a fight for government and its development partners.
President Koroma encouraged all to continue the collaboration which had resulted into this ceremony being witnessed today.
Meanwhile, a dynamic group of young Sierra Leoneans from all works of life donated assorted provisions, food stuff, sanitary pads and condoms worth over Le16 million to the 49 survivors, including the children."
Stiring up trouble
Ebola in Sierra Leone:
It apears this nytimes article is causing some problems...
"SYLVIA BLYDEN ON LiFE AFTER STATE HOUSE
The NEW YORK TIMES article is evidence of why I had to quit State House. Too many saboteurs who can smile to the President and stab him behind his back. Oswald Hanciles is one such person at State House. He surreptitiously aided to plant the article through his friend Adam Nossiter but made sure his name was never mentioned even as he incited against the President and so-called Makeni politics. I prefer to resign and criticise from the outside than stay inside and leak documents to NEW YORK TIMES like Oswald Hanciles and his likes are now doing.
Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden. "
Sunday, October 5, 2014
The ABC's of Ebola
Ebola: The rules for life in Sierra Leone.....
"Please don't forget the followings ABC, APC. AQH, AWDB, AEBM, TSHC, FHW, ABC- Avoid Body Contact.
APC- Avoid People's Compound.
AQH- Avoid Quarantine Homes
AWDB- Avoid Washing Dead Bodies
AEBM- Avoid Eating Bush Meat
TSHC- Take the Sick to Health Centres
SSFR- Stop Spreading False Rumour
FHW- Freequent Hand Washing.
If u can supply at least 2 of similar abbreviations like these above, God will surely bless u. May i here u say amen!! Brothers and sisters today is Sunday, we pray that EBOLA does not live to see more Sundays. Is someone there to answer amen? Ebola must go! I command u to leave now!! This prayer will only answer if we shout Amen/Ameen."
Saturday, October 4, 2014
African Union coming to save the day...
Tomorrow, Sunday 5 October, the African Union lead Ebola virus task force arrives in Sierra Leone to provide desperately needed help in the fight against the growing epidemic. Sierra Leone is one of the countries hit worst by the outbreak already having lead its government to undertake drastic measures - such as a complete lock down in September that lastedfor several days. http://bit.ly/1oGXCYZ
Friday, October 3, 2014
How Many Orphans will there be?
"Request from an Ophan child: Nurse I want to see my grand-mother said the eldest child, when would you take us to see my grand-mother? I want to see my grandmother she is staying at mayagba village. The younger child replied, no we should not go there because she is the only one left now, you want grandma to die? No we should stay here first till the Ebola ends they both agreed together sadly and accepted to stay in the holding center."
Getting Closer to Home
"Looking town area makeni got the first suspected case of ebola, the child was abscunded from baio street in central makeni after two persons are dead in that house, the responce team was very fast to identify this and quickly taken to the referal center, the girl age 8yrs though, seems to have the gratest courage to enter the ambulance, she looks seek and week, please remember her in your daily prayers...."
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Another Nurse Dies
"Breaking News Tuesday 30 Sept. 2014 Ebola Kills Staff Nurse at Jui Her name is Lucy Sowa. She was a staff nurse working at the Ebola Isolation Unit at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown where she contracted the disease while trying to save other lives. Staff Sowa tested positive a couple of days ago and was rushed to the Ebola Holding Centre in Jui where she died last night. Staff Sowa used to work at the Emergency Hospital in Hamilton from where she responded to the call to serve her country in the fight against the Ebola epidemic disease at the Connaught Hospital. Staff Sowa had no time to talk to her family members before undertaking the trip to Jui. Her colleagues said she was already seriously ill and had no time to even take along some of her personal effects. Staff Sowa, I am told by her colleagues, was a highly dedicated nurse who ensured that her patients got the correct nursing care they needed. She has since been laid to rest. May her soul rest in perfect peace. May Allah admit her in heaven unconditionally."
Makeni Updates
"THE PROCLIVITIES OF EBOLA CONTINUES TO PLAGUE MAKENI.
By Nat Taylor-kamara
As Bombali district continues to register an upward trend reporting on the number of Ebola victims, more and more unwanted occurrences continues to vulnerably violate, torture and live Residents astray to roam their world. In response to the unfortunate incident that saw an influx of people on the streets of Makeni few days ago- jubilating senselessly the end of the Ebola epidemic, the Resident Minister North of the Republic of Sierra Leone have yesterday in a press release banned all activities of commercial motorbike riding in the township and it immediate environs with immediate effect until further notice. This according to sources, the decision was as a result of the rumor that kept Makeni in maddness for hours-"Ebola don don" was believed to have been accelerated by the group in question as investigations continues.
However, since the end of the civil war in Sierra Leone, commercial motorbike riding has been one of the vivid success stories of Youths reintegration and as well the commonly used means of transportation across the country of which Makeni is pivotal. A ban on this will obviously affect the daily activity facilitation by this sector as daily movements and other related issues will b haunted. The people are in a predicament: trapped in serfdom and exploited by an unknowing fate. Escape is hopelessly imagined. There seems to be no way out for our people but retribution. Children are in a state of deprivation, still dwelling beyond the shadows of reality, behind close doors, knowing that their futures has been tampered with. For them life can never be the same any more. The victims, however, are hypothetically to survive. We will live on to speak for the ones who are touched by this significant story. We shall transcend their misfortunes, the most of all their lonesome voices that silently emanate from the anguished souls.
God save mama because you are the only hope left, our assentors have failed us with impunity filled with impulses with no stopping points to seek redress."
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
False Jubilation
"This is what they said happen. The situation guys is under control. Some people were released today from quarantine in Makeni and because they came out clean of Ebola after the 21 days stipulated time, they started dancing and jubilating that Ebola is gone. Others joined in the celebration, including Okada riders who have a unique way of jubilating.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Stolen Rice?!
The food situation is becoming dire. With the economy stopped and most of the country under restricted movement and/or quarantine, food and the means to buy it is greatly reduced. The below is a press release that appears to show that the ACC (anti-coruption commision) and the police taking food destined for quarantined areas.... sad. They need food.
PRESS RELEASE
ACC INTERCEPTS 4250kgs OF RICE SUPPLY MEANT FOR EBOLA QUARANTINED HOMES
At about 20-21:00hrs on Saturday 27th September 2014, the ACC together with other stakeholders including the Sierra Leone Police and the Health For All Coalition (HFAC), intercepted two vehicles; a Salini Salcost vehicle with registration number ACW 443 driven by one John Sesay and a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number 73CD24 driven by one Edith J. Kargbo of WFP.
At the time of interception around Watson Street, Masuba, in the Makeni Township, the suspects were actively involved at odd hours contrary to WFP operational procedures transferring 50kg bags of rice from the truck to the WFP Toyota Land Cruiser. A total of 69bags of rice were found in the Salcost vehicle, while 16 bags, which is about 800kgs of rice, were loaded in the WFP vehicle, purportedly for distribution to quarantined homes. The exercise was taking place in the absence of other members of the EOC.
The Makeni Police Division, headed by LUC G.M Turay, the ACC and ONS are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the drivers of the two vehicles, the DMO, the District Nutritionist and the WFP Programme Assistant in the region, Mahmood Kamara, are helping the Police with the investigations.
Patrick Sandi, Deputy Director, ASP Ibrahim Samura
Public Education and Outreach Department Head of Media and Public Relations
Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone Police
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Os to Os
"Just now: 11 homes to have been under quarantining are still not quarantined in lunsar. The blood samples results from the 21st to date indicates 11 homes in lunsar had confirmed ebola patients some of whom are undergoing treatment whiles other are dead. When I spoke with the CHO in lunsar this morning he said they are only waiting on the availability of food before they can start the quarantining of these homes. He acknowledged the fact that they posed a very serious threat now in the community to spreading the virus since they are unrestrictively moving all and about.
It could also be recalled the stake holders in this community are still to account for 300 bags of rice giving them for the disabled and quarantined homes before the ose to ose sensitization program."
Help!?
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Account Number: 3502410110"
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Friday, September 26, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Quarantined...
"Sierra Leone has ordered the quarantine "with immediate effect" of three districts and 12 tribal chiefdoms - affecting more than one million people - in the largest lockdown in West Africa's deadly Ebola outbreak. President Ernest Bai Koroma, in a national televised address, announced that the northern districts of Port Loko and Bombali were to be closed off along with the southern district of Moyamba - effectively sealing off around 1.2 million people. With the eastern districts of Kenema and Kailahun already under quarantine, more than a third of the population, in five of the nation's 14 districts, now finds itself unable to move freely. "The isolation of districts and chiefdoms will definitely pose great difficulty but the lives of everyone and the survival of our country takes precedence over these difficulties," Mr Koroma said. "These are trying moments for everyone in the country." The deadliest Ebola epidemic on record has infected almost 6,000 people in West Africa and killed nearly half of them, according to the World Health Organisation's latest figures. The virus can fell its victims within days, causing rampant fever, severe muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and – in many cases – unstoppable internal and external bleeding."
Sunday, September 21, 2014
The real cost of Ebola
Saturday, September 20, 2014
A final walk...
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http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/world/africa/ebola-outbreak.html?referrer=
Desperation
As we speak an epidemic is surging through west Africa. it is spreading incredibly quickly and has no cure. Ebola is leaving a trail of dead bodies in its wake and is only a matter of time before it spreads beyond "the dark continent" and into our living rooms. As most people that read this blog know, I spent some time there and helped to set up a community based organization called "aibia". The name for this came from playing with the Chinese words (bo ai) for "universal love", a concept espoused by Mozi nearly 2500 years ago in ancient China. It would seem like a simple concept, to create a political and economic system based on a universal caring and respect for all human beings, a system based on us viewing all others as if they were our brother or sister, mother or father, husband or wife. Would we let our sister go hungry? Would we let our mother die of Ebola? No we would not.
I want to see this building that we started be completed...
We are building an office and community center for our organization. A structure intended to be a place for us to have meetings, voice grievances, create and incubate businesses, teach both marketable and enjoyable skills, arts, computers, etc. A place for people to go engage with others and build community.
But this will never happen if everyone working on it, or that could use it, dies. And that is where we are headed right now. An entire population of people is at risk of death. Ebola carries with it a 90% fatality rate and is transferred simply through human to human contact.
Basically, we need to pay attention. We need to realize that we can make a difference both with Ebola and in helping marginalized people gain a voice in their own lives and for their communities. Please help by donating even the smallest amount. Just click on the donate button on the right hand side of this website and we will transfer the money in bulk amounts so we can save money on transfer fees. Please help.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Ebola in Makeni
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Usti nad Labem
