Rotary’s response to the Ebola outbreak
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Rotary continues to closely monitor the latest developments surrounding the Ebola outbreak, and work with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other partners to respond to both polio and Ebola. Fighting disease is a priority of our members, who have organized countless projects around the world aimed at educating and mobilizing communities to prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.
While our response to Ebola continues to evolve, much has already been accomplished:
• Through our investments in the polio eradication infrastructure in Nigeria, the government was able to help stop the outbreak of Ebola. The polio surveillance network – used to monitor cases for polio – is being employed to identify and track suspected Ebola cases and has contributed to Nigeria's successful response. It is important to remember that Nigeria is still one of three polio endemic countries and we must continue our efforts on eradicating polio to prevent new outbreaks.
• Rotary leadership continues to reach out to Rotarians in affected regions to determine how we can strengthen our response. Additionally, Rotary has created a working group to review the results of our findings, and help guide our outreach efforts.
• In addition to our global organizational plans, Rotary members are being mobilized on the ground to help prevent the spread of Ebola and other major diseases. The Rotary Club of Monrovia, for example is working directly with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Liberia to enhance local support for Ebola patients, health workers, and support personnel. Rotarians are soliciting funds to buy locally available items, providing much needed transportation, tracking potential Ebola cases, and supporting the reintegration of those who have recovered from the virus. Funding for the Monrovia project will also be used for local vehicle repair, fuel, medicine, mattresses, buckets, and other supplies. The Monrovia club has asked for donations of gowns, gloves, face masks, shoe covers, plastic boots, and, sadly, body bags. Please contact Yoquai Lavala with copy to David Frankfort for more information on where to send items, and read more about the club's project in Rotary Ideas.
Rotarians and friends of Rotary can also support our broader efforts to address public health concerns by contributing to the Rotary Foundation's disease prevention and treatment fund. Contributions can be made securely online by selecting the Annual Fund option. They can be made in a variety of currencies, and are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition. While these gifts may not contribute directly to current Ebola relief efforts, they will be put to effective use to support Rotary's ongoing commitment to prevent disease and improve access to health care around the world.
Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Marlow Rotary Club Takes Action
Ebola is killing people by the thousands in West Africa.
Ebola is burning down the already skeletal health care infrastructures. Many hospitals in Liberia, for example, have closed down temporarily. Doctors are dying. The Chief Administrator of the The Catholic Hospital, the largest private hospital in Monrovia, the capital city, has died from the virus, as well as the Chief Medical Officer at government run hospital (JF Kennedy). They have had to wait for medical equipment such as PPE, masks, gloves, but also lack basic services such as constant electricity, water, medicines.
Rioting results from bodies being left, no-one to pick them up. Families, who are already incredibly poor, find themselves near destitute when the clean up process following the removal of an Ebola victim involves a total sterilisation of the house, and often burning of all fabrics. These poor people find themselves without clothes, furnishings and bedding, a desperate state! They may even find themselves ostracized from the rest of the community because of this dreadful disease.
What is immediately needed are basic medical supplies. Supplies that the hospitals do not have: face masks, gloves, soap, bed sheets, mattress covers, fresh water. Knapsack sprayers, chemicals, protective garments and other emergency essentials to care for the sick, handle the dead, disinfect the infected areas.
The Ebola crisis will be with us for a long time, and inevitably it has knock-on consequences, particularly when you consider the Liberia is one of the poorest countries of the world. The pressure on the three hospitals is immense and consequently non-Ebola patients are suffering, in particular women and children.
There is a growing need to help the hospitals with consumables and equipment supply, clothing bedding and food to the survivors.
What is badly needed is organisation, coordination, focused leadership ,distribution, acquisition and money.
Who can provide this? Who IS providing this?
The Rotary Club of Marlow, in conjunction with Rotary District 1090, are now working closely with the Rotary Club of Monrovia in Liberia. We believe that the Rotary Club of Monrovia is well placed to best distribute and co-ordinate the aid effort. The club contains many professionals with a high level of expertise. They have a wide range of members that understand how to achieve results in what has become a critical supply chain, distribution and quick response crisis.
But what is most important is that they have local knowledge and the trust of the community they work in. They are working with local churches, the community, hospitals and the government. The members are there today and will continue to be active Rotarians after the Ebola crisis.To date they have raised over $20,000.and are campaigning to raise in excess of $100,000
As of mid-August, they have provided 3000 surgical gloves, 10,000 examination gloves, 100 buckets with faucets, mattresses, petrol slips for the rapid response vehicles, food for the patients – meeting / communicating with the Ministry of Health on daily basis to provide timely locally obtained requirements, and much more.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE UK? The Rotary Club of Marlow launched a campaign to help the people in Liberia with a public meeting at Christ Church in Marlow on 1st September 2014. The meeting was chaired by Richard Becker the Minister and introduced by Brian Jonson – President of Rotary Club of Marlow, the key speaker was David Frankfort – Foundation Committee chairperson, and leader of the Ebola response Committee, from the Rotary Club of Monrovia. The meeting was attended by approx 60 Rotarians from all over District 1090. A bucket collection on the night collected nearly £240, and donation cheques from other Rotary Clubs took the total on the night to nearly £1000.
The Rotary Clubs of Marlow, High Wycombe, Maidenhead and Witney held bucket collections over the week-end 5th/6th/7th September 2014. Other events are being organised throughout the District.
By Tuesday 9th Sept, over £8,500 had been raised and money was still coming in.
A few days later a collection by clubs in Reading raised the total to £15,000. £8,000 was immediately transfered to RC Monrovia for essential items and a purchase of 221 non contact thermometers (cost about £2250) was shipped out to Monrovia the following week..
Other Rotary Districts are now becoming involved.
But the need is still desperate!
Rotarians may download collection material for their clubs here
Thanks to the generosity of the public, companies, Rotary clubs and Districts here and overseas, by 22 October the total stood at £25,216.89 (including gift-aid). But plese continue to give and encourage others as this outbreak is unprecedented and proving extremely hard to control. Every penny is spent on items essential to win the fight against this cruel disease, Thank you!